IEM Katowice 2025 delivered another legendary tournament in the world of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO), bringing together the best teams in the world to battle for prestige, prize money, and a chance to etch their names in history. With Team Vitality lifting the trophy in a dominant 3-0 grand final against Team Spirit, and Eternal Fire making a deep run into the playoffs, the event provided a spectacle filled with upsets, heated rivalries, and some of the best Katowice CS:GO action we’ve seen in recent years.
Eternal Fire’s Deep Run at IEM Katowice 2025
The Turkish squad Eternal Fire entered the tournament as underdogs but quickly proved they were here to compete at the highest level. Their journey began in the group stage, where they faced off against 3DMAX, a team that had been making headlines for their bold trash talk leading up to the match. The French roster came in with confidence, attempting to get under the skin of Eternal Fire’s players. However, in a thrilling three-map series, Eternal Fire outplayed 3DMAX with superior tactics and individual skill, securing a 2-1 victory.
Advancing from the group stage, Eternal Fire continued their momentum by taking down some of the tournament’s stronger teams. Their next challenge came in the IEM Katowice 2025 quarterfinals, where they faced off against The MongolZ. Despite their best efforts, the Turkish side was unable to break through the Mongolian squad’s solid defensive setups and quick-paced aggression. The series ended in a 0-2 loss, but Eternal Fire’s performance throughout the tournament cemented them as one of the strongest rising teams in the Katowice CS2 scene.
3DMAX: Bold Words, Harsh Reality
While 3DMAX CS:GO didn’t make it as far as they hoped, they certainly left their mark on IEM Katowice 2025, though not entirely for the right reasons. From the start, the team built a reputation for their brash confidence, making bold statements about their chances against some of the tournament's strongest teams.
Their group stage match against Eternal Fire was one of the most anticipated, not necessarily for the gameplay, but for the pre-match trash talk. However, once on the server, 3DMAX couldn’t back up their words, falling 1-2 and exiting the event much earlier than expected.
The French banter began earlier, as the teams were shouting at each other during the first half of Inferno. At some point, Filip "Graviti" Brankovic, yelled at apEX, calling him a "noob." Their back and forth reached its peak in overtime. After a successful 3-kill hold of B-site apEX addressed the opponents as a "band of sluts." In the following defence, he boasted of reading 3DMAX, saying that "even his mom" had time to rotate to B.
50 years old and I f**k you, band of sluts! Shut your mouth now, shut your big mouth! Putain, you were spotted! There were 17 of us on B! Even my mum was on B! Putain!
This moment became one of the most talked-about incidents of the tournament, showcasing the intensity and emotions that can run high in top-tier Counter-Strike. It was a brutal reminder that confidence alone isn’t enough—execution matters.
Vitality’s Dominant Grand Final Performance
While the stories of Eternal Fire and 3DMAX added drama to the tournament, the ultimate glory went to Team Vitality, who dominated the CS:GO Katowice 2025 grand final against Team Spirit. With a 3-0 clean sweep, Vitality reaffirmed their position as one of the strongest teams in the world.
Their run through the tournament was nothing short of spectacular. Led by Mathieu "ZywOo" Herbaut, the team crushed every opponent in their path. ZywOo was instrumental in the grand final, putting up MVP-worthy numbers and consistently making high-impact plays that left Spirit unable to respond.
Looking Ahead: What’s Next for These Teams?
With IEM Katowice 2025 now in the books, all eyes are on the upcoming CS2 Majors and ESL Pro League events. Here’s what the future may hold for some of the biggest teams from Katowice:
Eternal Fire has shown they can compete with the best and will be looking to build on this momentum in future tournaments.
3DMAX CS:GO will need to back up their words with stronger performances if they want to be taken seriously.
Vitality remains a dominant force, and this victory only solidifies their position as one of the top CS teams in the world.
Team Spirit has proven themselves as a finalist-worthy team. They’ll be looking to go one step further in upcoming events.
Final Thoughts
IEM Katowice 2025 delivered everything CS fans could hope for—incredible plays, major upsets, high-stakes matches, and unforgettable rivalries. Eternal Fire’s deep run showed the strength of Turkish Counter-Strike, while 3DMAX CS:GO’s pre-match confidence didn't quite translate to results. Meanwhile, Team Vitality walked away with a dominant victory, proving once again why they are one of the best teams in Katowice CS:GO history.
As the CS2 era continues, we can expect even more excitement, drama, and unforgettable moments. One thing’s for sure—this is just the beginning of another incredible year for Counter-Strike esports.
