“It Was Just Flawless for Me and for the Team” – ZywOo on His IEM Kraków Grand Final Performance

Why It Matters

Vitality’s dominance and ZywOo’s elite AWP display reshape the CS:GO competitive hierarchy, influencing team strategies and sponsor interest across esports.

Key Takeaways

• ZywOo delivered flawless AWP performance in IEM Kraków final
• Vitality secured back‑to‑back IEM titles with dominant team play
• Opponent FURIA mounted comeback, highlighting competitive depth
• Teammates apEX, ropz, flameZ, mezii praised for synergy
• Team focuses on round‑by‑round mindset, not end‑year expectations

Pulse Analysis

The IEM Kraków 2026 Grand Final cemented Vitality’s position at the summit of CS:GO, with ZywOo delivering arguably his most polished hybrid AWP showcase. His precision on the AWP not only dismantled FURIA’s defenses but also forced opponents into reactive play, underscoring how a single player’s form can dictate map momentum. This performance reverberates beyond a single tournament, signaling to rivals that mastering the hybrid AWP role is now a prerequisite for championship contention.

Beyond individual brilliance, Vitality’s success hinges on a meticulously balanced roster. apEX’s leadership, ropz’s analytical calling, flameZ’s creative aggression, and mezii’s strategic adaptability coalesce into a unit that mirrors Astralis‑level cohesion. Their synchronized decision‑making amplifies ZywOo’s impact, turning isolated flashes of skill into sustained round wins. Analysts predict this synergy will push other organizations to invest heavily in team chemistry programs, scouting for players who complement a star’s style rather than merely stacking talent.

Looking forward, Vitality’s focus on a game‑by‑game approach reflects a broader shift in esports business strategy: prioritizing consistent performance over headline‑grabbing milestones. Sponsors and tournament organizers are taking note, rewarding teams that maintain high‑level play across multiple events with stable branding opportunities. As ZywOo aims to preserve his peak form, the ripple effect will likely elevate viewership, drive higher prize pools, and reinforce the commercial viability of CS:GO’s premier circuit.

“It was just flawless for me and for the team” – ZywOo on his IEM Kraków Grand Final performance

Interview by Darragh Harbinson, Senior Editor · Last updated: 10 February 2026

Esports News UK spoke to Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut following his historic Grand Final masterclass that led Vitality to victory at IEM Kraków 2026. The Frenchman reflected on his stunning performance, which saw him dismantle FURIA across the best‑of‑five contest, and on what makes his teammates special.

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Back‑to‑back at this event – How does it feel to be in such a rare company?

“Feeling amazing. Like you said, back‑to‑back. Even though we, as a team, didn’t even talk about it. We just played game by game, round by round; never thought about what could happen at the end. Obviously, now it’s back‑to‑back. But before that we were just so focused on what we can do, what we can improve in the game, and the result came. That’s the back‑to‑back now. I’m just feeling amazing for that.”

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From an individual point of view, it’s your best big event of this level ever. How were you feeling in the server?

“It was just flawless for me, and for the team. Obviously, when I’m playing like this, the team will feel really confident to do things, to push or to take a duel or anything. I will try to do that in any tournament, but it’s always difficult to be at this level and to keep this level. It’s a good thing to have and to keep. I’m looking forward to keeping this level. I’m really happy with what I’ve shown tonight and for this tournament.”

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You’ve become known as a great hybrid AWPer – today felt like the peak of ZywOo on the AWP. Thoughts?

“I think it’s been a while since I felt him AWP like this, to be honest. When I’m playing like this, it opens a lot of opportunities for the team to make decisions. That’s why we played well as well. I won’t say it’s only because of me, because that would be a lie – we have so many team things as well. When I’m playing like this to unlock rounds or to push myself, it’s easier for my team to be better. Now I will try to keep this level with the AWP, and my team will feel good as well.”

ZywOo lifting the DHL MVP award at IEM Kraków 2026 – Image credit: Adela Sznajder / ESL FACEIT Group

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A word about FURIA – how much do you respect the team?

“It’s always tough to play against them. On Mirage we were up 9‑3 and they managed a comeback, pretty easily. We maybe took the game a bit too easy at the end because we were up 9‑3 and didn’t talk to each other. We were bad at refragging and took some entry frags. All this combined made it tough for us to have good team play. After Mirage we were a bit frustrated about the way we were playing, but we know how good we are when we play as a team. On the last map we played as much as we wanted and showed we are good as a team.”

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What’s it like to play with flameZ, mezii and apEX on the server?

“We can say this is one of the best teams ever. We have been Astralis‑level in performance because we know we can beat anyone. We can face anyone, win any tournament when we’re at this high level. It’s a pleasure to have this team – it’s really rare to find four guys who match the energy, the team play, everything. These four GOATs in their own roles make it good.

About apEX, you can see his leadership, the way he pushes us to be better every day – that’s why we’re good right now. He’s a bit of a perfectionist, that’s his style.

Robin (ropz) is one of the greatest players ever; a real critic, always thinking about the game and pushing himself.

flameZ is a guy you can trust – he can go crazy, but in a good way, always bringing ideas for the team.

mezii, like ropz and flameZ, is constantly working on himself and the team. He’s the second caller and always looking for new strategies.”

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What are your goals moving forward?

“We don’t have any expectation to win. It’s game by game, round by round, tournament by tournament. We’re not thinking about what we can achieve at the end of the year because we know it’s going to be a fast year, so we don’t have time for that.”