Vitality lost 1–2 to The MongolZ in the Esports World Cup 2025 semifinals and dropped out of the title race. After the match, MN spoke with Shahar flameZ Shushan about the reasons behind the defeat, the possibility of one day forming an Israeli lineup, and the young players from his national scene worth watching.
What went wrong for you at this tournament and in today’s match specifically?
To be honest, I do not think too many things went wrong today in the same way they did at the previous two tournaments. Back then, the problems were more about communication and similar issues.
— flameZ
Today, we had good reads, good communication, and sometimes very favorable situations, but we could not punish the opponent. They were shooting extremely hard and extremely well, and we failed to capitalize.
Obviously, we never want that to happen, but it is going to happen in Counter-Strike. If the opposing team is playing very well individually, they are sharp, and their calls work, a match can turn out like that.
On Mirage, we had many rounds that we should have won. On Nuke, it was difficult to get into the game: you die through a smoke, they make a very good play, and we could not get our footing back on the T side.
We won two rounds on the CT side and briefly felt that a comeback might be possible. But in the end, we were not good enough individually.
Have you ever thought about joining forces with players such as xertioN, Spinx, or HeavyGod after Vitality and forming an Israeli core?
I think it is a little dream for every Israeli player that one day we will gather and play together.
I do not know whether it will happen. Certainly not within the next three to five years.
