Team Vitality returned to the top with a victory in ESL Pro League Season 22. Its entry fragger Shahar “flameZ” Shushan became the key figure in the final. This was Vitality's first title in four months and the team's eighth trophy in 2025. The player himself shared many interesting things with HLTV.

Vitality back in form

In an interview after the victory, flameZ reflected on the team’s struggles during the summer break and how recent preparation paid off:

Those seven weeks we played Cologne into Bounty and EWC, we were stuck with the playbook we had before Cologne, and we couldn’t improve our game. This time around, we had time to practice, explore different plays, and get the best out of different players.

  Shahar “flameZ” Shushan  

The Israeli rifler emphasized that Vitality’s better structure and deeper practice schedule were key to their resurgence.

Comfort in chaos

When asked about his dominant performance in the grand final, flameZ highlighted his adaptability in messy situations:

There were a lot of chaotic rounds, and I feel comfortable in those kinds of rounds. Someone comes out here, someone comes out there, and you can really play around it.

  Shahar “flameZ” Shushan  

He credited his team’s preparation and leadership for allowing everyone to play freely and confidently during high-pressure moments.

A step toward a new era

The win not only lifted Vitality back to the top but also reignited talk of a potential “era” for the French organization.

It keeps us in a run for the era,” flameZ said. “Even though we played poorly in the last four tournaments, now winning this trophy breaks the gap we had, and we’re back in the routine.

  Shahar “flameZ” Shushan  

Vitality’s calendar ahead looks manageable, with IEM Chengdu (November 3) and BLAST Rivals Hong Kong (November 12) serving as key preparation events for the Major in December.

Focused on consistency

Despite the win, flameZ insists that consistency remains their primary goal:

Sometimes we’re not going to win tournaments, but staying consistent and competitive will lead us to more trophies.

  Shahar “flameZ” Shushan  

Looking forward, he underlined the importance of small improvements before the Major: fixing minor issues, strengthening their map pool, and keeping the same hunger that brought them this far.

Team over MVPs

Although m0NESY took home the MVP award, flameZ doesn’t see individual recognition as his priority:

Without my team, I wouldn’t be able to frag as much. For us, winning the event is a bigger trophy to hold. An MVP is something I want to achieve one day, but my goal is to play the best for my teammates.

  Shahar “flameZ” Shushan  

He concluded by saying that what matters most is collective success — and this victory might just be the beginning of something greater for Vitality.