Captain Vitality Dan “apEX” Madesclaire, in an interview for BLAST.tv at IEM Dallas 2025, discussed the team's phenomenal winning streak in 2025, the importance of the upcoming major in Austin, and his own progress as a captain. 

Vitality has already won five trophies this season and now, one step away from the most important goal of the year—victory at the BLAST.tv Austin Major—the team is using IEM Dallas as their final preparation before the main challenge.

The Final Test Before the Major

IEM Dallas 2025 has become the last tournament for Vitality before the BLAST.tv Austin Major. Having already defeated Legacy in the group stage, the team continues to gain momentum. However, apEX acknowledges that the preparation for the tournament was limited:

We come here with little preparation, we've had only five days of practice because we took a week off before, so we know we're not in the best shape we could ever be, but we did it so we could be fresh for the Major.

Dan “apEX” Madesclaire

Despite this, the team is not slowing down, as IEM Dallas is not just a rehearsal but an opportunity to maintain a high level and assess weak spots:

I don't think that if we lose here, even if it's in the Group Stage, that it will fuck our confidence. We've built a lot up in the last five events.

Dan “apEX” Madesclaire

According to apEX, the key task now is to maintain focus and use each match as a tool for preparation for the major.

Inside Dominance — A Cool Head

Vitality is not just winning—they're doing it consistently, cohesively, and with a clear goal. As apEX admits, the victories were not something expected in such numbers:

I expected to win, because I know how talented my team is, but I never expected it to be this much.

Dan “apEX” Madesclaire

The strength of Vitality, according to the captain, lies not only in the level of the players but also in their constant motivation and approach:

Whenever a team is dominating, people always want to remove credit from them and say other teams are playing worse, but it's not my problem if they're playing worse. My goal is to win as much as I can.

Dan “apEX” Madesclaire

As for personal progress, apEX evaluates himself soberly:

I'm not better than last year, I've been working my ass off in both years and that's it. I think we just win more of the rounds we're supposed to win, so it's just easier for me to call better sometimes.

Dan “apEX” Madesclaire

Who's Closest to Stopping Vitality?

Amid the team's dominance, there are increasingly frequent words from opponents that they are "almost catching up" to Vitality. apEX himself believes that Falcons have come the closest:

For now I think it's Falcons. They've been playing pretty well against us, they've been the closest to play us and beat us.

Dan “apEX” Madesclaire

As for the interline race for records—like the legendary win streak of NIP—Vitality does not dream about it, although they recognize it's a nice bonus:

We knew we were close to Liquid's record and being top two in this era of CS would be legendary... As you said, the NIP one is far away... If we do match it, it means we won't lose ever this year, which is pretty crazy to think about.

Dan “apEX” Madesclaire

Strength Built on Experience and Mistakes

According to apEX, it is experience and a long journey that have made him one of the best captains on the CS scene:

I would say that I'm top three. I think that with the longevity and what I've won in the last five years, I've done pretty well in that regard. I think that gla1ve and karrigan are above me, but I still have some more time to get better and reach them.

Dan “apEX” Madesclaire

He particularly noted the growth of mezii, who was given new roles this season:

Last year, mezii played all anchor roles... Now he has some rotation roles as well, which helps a lot... He's been much better than last year. He's been phenomenal.

Dan “apEX” Madesclaire

Vitality entered 2025 with a renewed lineup featuring ropz and have already claimed five trophies, including IEM Katowice 2025 and ESL Pro League Season 21. They are now considered the undeniable favorite for the upcoming BLAST.tv Austin Major, where they will start from the third stage thanks to their ranking.

That's okay, everyone would love to be in our shoes... We earned to be there and we worked a lot to be there, so for us, it's just fighting the pressure again and giving our best to win the Major.

Dan “apEX” Madesclaire