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At the Riot Games Arena in Berlin, Team Vitality created history by winning the VALORANT EMEA KICKOFF 2025 title. The triumph concluded an exciting playoff run that included a spectacular Grand Final comeback against Team Liquid. The French derby versus Karmine Corp and a strong challenge from FUT Esports were only two of the difficult challenges the Bees survived.
From the first match of the tournament, Team Vitality showcased exceptional skill. The roster, which included Kimmie “Kicks” Laasner, Saif “Sayf” Jibraeel, Nikita “trexx” Cherednichenko, Felipe “Less” Basso, and Nikita “Derke” Sirmitev, secured a dominant 2-1 win over Karmine Corp in the quarter-finals. They followed up with a 2-0 win over FUT Esports in the Upper Semi-Finals. The Bees’ momentum didn’t falter, as they crushed Team Heretics 2-0 in the Upper Bracket Final, including a standout 13-1 victory on Abyss.
The Grand Final against Team Liquid started off tough, with Liquid taking a 2-0 lead after wins on Split and Haven. However, Team Vitality showed their resilience. With wins on Lotus and Bind (13-6 and 13-7, respectively), they set the stage for a thrilling final game on Fracture. In a stunning display of skill and composure, Team Vitality completed the comeback, winning 13-8 to clinch their first-ever VCT trophy.
This victory marks Team Vitality’s inaugural European VCT title, solidifying their position as one of the top teams in the EMEA league. As champions, they have secured direct qualification for Masters Bangkok, a major milestone in the 2025 season. With the eyes of the esports world now on them, the team is focused on maintaining their momentum and aiming for the VALORANT Champions in Paris this September.
Fabien “Neo” Devide, President of Team Vitality, expressed immense pride in the team’s achievement. “This roster is both talented and unpredictable. They leave nothing to chance and have an unshakable determination to win. Winning our first VCT trophy and starting the season like this is an incredible source of pride,” he said. “Now, we are ready to showcase our full strength in Bangkok, keeping our ultimate goal in sight: the Champions in Paris.”
New recruit Nikita “Derke” Sirmitev praised the team’s focus during the tough moments. “We were just confident in our maps, I think our map pool is strong. Even though we lost Split and Haven, when we got to the third map we started believing in ourselves, we took it round-by-round and tried not to stress out too much, and it worked!”
Head Coach Daniel “Faded” Hwang credited the team’s never-give-up attitude. “One of the biggest things in our team is that they never give up. Sayf is a vibes merchant – he keeps emotions steady, motivates the whole team, and creates a positive environment around him, which is a leadership trait I admire in him. Even when we were two maps down, I didn’t stop believing because the team didn’t stop believing, they knew what needed to be done.”