Vitality’s Grand Slam Victory Draws Praise from President Macron

Team Vitality just made Counter-Strike history—and even the President of France is taking notice.

The French powerhouse claimed the IEM Melbourne 2025 title in spectacular fashion, locking in a coveted Grand Slam and etching their name among the greats of the game. 

The achievement wasn’t just a big deal for esports fans; it also caught the eye of President Emmanuel Macron, who posted his congratulations on social media platform X:

“With its Grand Slam, Vitality has elevated France to the top of esports and made our colors shine. Congratulations to the entire team!”

This shoutout is more than just a congratulatory tweet—it marks a clear shift in tone from Macron, who not long ago found himself at odds with the gaming community. In 2023, during nationwide riots, Macron controversially claimed that video games had “intoxicated” some of the protestors. The comment sparked major backlash from players, developers, and streamers alike.

But to be fair, Macron has also shown signs of embracing esports in recent years. During his 2022 re-election campaign, he pitched ambitious plans to make France a global gaming destination—highlighting goals like hosting the League of Legends World Championship and CS Majors.

And in 2023, his government launched a national esports strategy aimed at boosting the professional scene and drawing more international tournaments to French soil.

With Team Vitality’s latest triumph, it’s safe to say that mission is going pretty well.

Vitality’s Melbourne Masterclass

The final against Team Falcons wasn’t just a win—it was an epic. Vitality pulled off a 3-2 comeback, with the final map, Nuke, becoming an instant classic. Down 12-6, with their Grand Slam dreams hanging by a thread, the team pulled off seven match point saves to force overtime. Three overtimes later, they clinched the win.

The hero of the hour? Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut, who earned MVP honors for his ice-cold performance under pressure.

Vitality’s Grand Slam victory places them among elite company—only four other teams in CS history have pulled it off. It requires winning four out of ten ESL-organized tournaments.

Their victory also pushed their winning streak to 21 matches across four tournaments. According to The Team, that’s the third-longest run in Counter-Strike history—behind only Team Liquid (23 in 2019) and Ninjas in Pyjamas (a wild 60-match run in 2012–2013).

Looking ahead, Vitality enters the upcoming Major tournament in Austin as heavy favorites. Before that, they'll attempt to extend their winning streak at the BLAST Spring Rivals in Copenhagen and the IEM Dallas in May.