[Exclusive] flameZ on winning the Starladder Budapest Major 2025: “It would be the perfect way to finish the year”

After a tense semifinal match between Vitality and Spirit, in which the French grand won and secured their place in the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 grand final, BO3.gg spoke exclusively with Shahar "flameZ" Shushan. In the interview, the Israeli rifler shared his emotions after reaching the final, assessed the difficulty of the series against Spirit, talked about the key moments on Mirage, Vitality's teamwork at the tournament, and his own form at the Major. flameZ also admitted what a potential victory in the final would mean to him and who supports him on this journey.

Congratulations on reaching the Major final. How does it feel right now?

It feels great, of course. Making the Major final already shows that this year has been a big success for us. Tomorrow can be the cherry on top, but even being here means a lot. Right now, the focus is just on playing our best Counter-Strike in the final.

Some people say Vitality look like the strongest team at the Major right now. Do you feel that way?

We don’t really think about it like that. Today’s match was very close, and Spirit had a lot of chances, especially on Mirage. We didn’t dominate from start to finish. What helped us was staying calm, adapting during the game, and constantly sharing ideas. Tomorrow doesn’t matter who we play — NAVI or FaZe — both are strong teams, and we’ll need to bring our best level.

Mirage was difficult for you early on. What went wrong in the first half?

We lost several key opening duels and couldn’t take mid control properly. They punished us for that. Individually, they played very well and had some momentum. But we told each other to stay patient, take it round by round, and not panic. That mindset helped us slowly get back into the game.

Was there a single big mistake from Spirit that you punished?

Not really. I don’t think there was one huge mistake. Both teams played solid Counter-Strike. There were no crazy throw rounds or massive blunders. It was more about adaptation on both sides and small details adding up over time.

At what point did you personally start believing this Major run was possible?

Honestly, we always believe it’s possible with this roster. But we don’t look too far ahead. We don’t talk about brackets or trophies during the event. Our mindset is very simple: play the next match as well as possible. That’s it.

You’ve been very consistent individually at this Major. What changed compared to earlier this year?

I wouldn’t say this Major is about individual consistency. What changed is our teamwork. Everyone feels comfortable in their role, nobody feels lost or under pressure to do too much. One map it’s one player stepping up, the next map it’s someone else. That balance helps everyone perform better.

Do you feel more confident in your role now compared to the start of the year?

My role has always been clear. What changed is probably my individual level over the last few months. I feel sharper, more confident in my decisions, but the expectations from the team and the structure stayed the same.

You often choose when to be aggressive very carefully. Is that experience or a conscious adjustment?

A bit of both. Lately, I’ve been focusing more on mixing my pace — sometimes passive, sometimes aggressive. You also learn a lot by watching other top players and understanding what makes them successful. There’s no shame in learning and adapting.

What would winning this Major mean to you personally?

It would be huge. It would be the perfect way to finish the year. But even if we don’t win, if we play our best Counter-Strike and lose to a better team, there will be no regrets. Tomorrow is about giving everything we have.

Who has supported you the most during this run?

I’m lucky because the most important people are here with me — my girlfriend, my brother, and close friends. I also feel a lot of support from the crowd, especially from Israeli fans and Vitality fans. That energy really helps during the games.