ZywOo Wins MVP of StarLadder Budapest Major 2025

StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 is over, and it ended in the biggest way possible. Vitality are Major champions once again.

In the grand final, Vitality defeated FaZe 3:1, closed out the year with a trophy, and proved that they are still one of the strongest teams in Counter-Strike. For Vitality, this is their second title of the 2025 season, and they earned $500,000 for the win. FaZe finished second and took home $170,000.

This Major was also the last event of the year, which makes this victory even more important. Ending the season as Major champions is something every team dreams about. And once again, the story of the Major belongs to one man.

ZywOo – Major MVP Once Again

Mathieu "ZywOo" Herbaut delivered an incredible tournament from start to finish, but his playoffs run was simply unreal. When the pressure was the highest, he played his best Counter-Strike.

ZywOo’s Tournament Stats

• 0.89 kills per round
• 90.4 ADR
• Overall rating: 7.2

These are insane numbers for a Major, especially considering the level of opponents Vitality faced in the playoffs.

Match Ratings

His performance against The MongolZ in the quarterfinals was one of the best individual series of the entire Major. A 9.6 rating in a playoff match shows just how dominant he was.

In the semifinal versus Spirit and in the final against FaZe, ZywOo stayed calm and consistent. He didn’t need flashy plays every round. He won clutches, controlled space, and punished every mistake.

A Historic Achievement

This MVP award is special.

• ZywOo’s third Major MVP
• His second Major MVP in 2025

This alone puts him in a category that very few players will ever reach. At this point, it’s fair to say it clearly:

ZywOo is a living legend. He is the best Counter-Strike player in history.

Year after year, different metas, different teammates, different pressure – and he is always at the top. Even when Vitality struggle, ZywOo never disappears. And when Vitality win, he is almost always the main reason.

EVPs of StarLadder Budapest Major 2025

Alongside ZywOo’s MVP award, four players received EVP mentions for their outstanding performances.

donk – Rating 7.6

Danil “donk” Kryshkovets finished the Major as the highest-rated player of the entire event. His aim, confidence, and impact were incredible from start to finish. But even performances like this are sometimes not enough to win trophies. Spirit fell short, and donk once again learned how hard it is to win a Major – even when you play at an elite level.

ropz – Rating 7.0

Robin “ropz” Kool was extremely close to winning the MVP. His playoffs performance was outstanding, and the final showed just how valuable he is to FaZe.

His Overpass performance versus FaZe, where he reached a perfect 10.0 rating, was one of the best maps of the tournament. Smart positioning, perfect timings, and calm decision-making under pressure. FaZe don’t reach the final without ropz.

mezii – Rating 6.5

William “mezii” Merriman turned out to be one of Vitality’s biggest weapons this year. In the final, after Vitality lost a map, mezii helped bring the team back into control. His aim looked terrifying, and his confidence was clear in every duel. Throughout the Major, he played the role of an X factor, delivering impact when opponents didn’t expect it. Vitality’s success in 2025 is impossible without him.

frozen – Rating 6.5

David “frozen” Čerňanský was one of FaZe’s most reliable players during the Major. He played smart, stayed consistent, and performed very well in the final. His calm style and strong fundamentals were a big reason why FaZe stayed competitive until the end. Even in defeat, frozen proved again why he is one of the best riflers in the world.

ZywOo ends the year on top. Vitality end the year as Major champions. This was the final event of the season – and it couldn’t have ended in a better way.