Vitality finished the first six months of 2024 without a trophy, a stark contrast to their success in 2023 when they won the BLAST.tv Paris Major and five other trophies.
William "mezii" Merriman has also been criticized for having difficulty adjusting to his new roles and a drop in his individual level of play, though he managed to regain form at IEM Dallas. He performed well in the group stage of BLAST Premier: Spring Final and established himself in the arena in front of his home crowd, but the team was defeated by FaZe and crushed by Spirit in the semifinals.
In an interview with HLTV, after the loss, mezii discussed his impressions of playing in front of his home crowd, his improved comfort in his new roles, and his assessment of Vitality's trophy-less season.
In the interview, he was asked about how the crowd reacted. Mezii noted that the fan support was something new to him. He was amazed at how much support he received and compared it to other tournaments where such support was not present. Despite the disappointment of losing, he expressed his gratitude for this incredible support.
When asked about whether the team's season was disappointing given the lack of trophies, mezii said it was hard to make a clear assessment. He emphasized that the Vitality team is always looking to win, especially after his arrival and initial success. However, he noted the progress in all tournaments since IEM Katowice and achievements such as reaching the finals twice and the semifinals here. Meanwhile, he admitted that as a competitor and player, he always wants to win, especially when the team is so close to victory. So while the situation is unpleasant, he doesn't see it as a disappointment overall.
When asked about his personal form at the end of the season when he performed well in the EPL and IEM Dallas, mezii replied in the affirmative that he now feels confident in the team knowing his role and contribution to the team. He admitted that it took him longer than he would have liked to settle in, given his new roles and having a lot of superstars on the team. However, he now definitely feels that he has found his place in Vitality.
The next tournament for Vitality is Esports World Cup 2024, which will take place from July 17-21, but before that the teams will have some time off. At the tournament itself 15 teams will fight for the prize fund of 1.000.000 dollars.
Source: HLTV
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