The grand final of BLAST Open Rotterdam proved two things. First - NAVI might actually be a contender for next-best in the world. Second - everyone is still light years away from Vitality.

The world number one opted to start the BO5 out on Inferno. While NAVI kept it close by the end of the first half, it wouldn’t last, as the newly dubbed “Estonian donk” dropped a 2.07 rating to close the map out 13-7.

NAVI’s first pick, Anubis, began in similar fashion, with a closer first half and a runaway Vitality in the second half. Aleksib and co. made an attempt at a comeback, stringing together five T-side rounds late on, but apEX eventually found traction and closed the map 13-10.

Dust 2 would finish the series as Vitality this time ran away with a 9-3 T-side, once again spearheaded by ropz. The series point was found at 12-4, though they wouldn’t win the game until 13-10 once again, as NAVI were kind enough to give us a little tease before killing our hopes and dreams.

Isn’t Counter-Strike a wonderful game? You throw some grenades, shoot some people, and then Vitality win.

That being said, NAVI did put up a good fight. Despite never having a lead bigger than a single round during the final, they seemed to find a good rhythm to take the final two maps back to a closer scoreline.

That’s more than you can say for a lot of other teams.

The win is Vitality’s third consecutive trophy, and the flawless victory extends their streak of victorious big events maps to twenty-two, the second longest in history. That’s a win streak that would make even Don Shula blush.

ZywOo also set a new record, this time by not getting the MVP award.

Despite being the third-highest rated player on his team across the event, ropz’s nuclear playoffs performance well and truly earned him the MVP award. He is the first Vitality player not named ZywOo to take one home, and we feel it was a long time coming.

Now we’re just waiting for flameZ and mezii to get theirs. Maybe at some point in the next twenty-two maps…