Team Vitality Makes CS History with Back‑to‑Back ESL Grand Slam at IEM Rio 2026

3 min read

A dominant performance in Rio de Janeiro not only crowned Team Vitality IEM Rio 2026 champions, but cemented their place in Counter‑Strike lore.

Team Vitality celebrating on the stage at IEM Rio 2026 in Farmasi Arena, Rio de Janeiro, with players lifting the trophy amid confetti and a roaring crowd — photorealistic, horizontal landscape, article header style.

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A Historic Feat in Rio

From April 13 to 19, IEM Rio 2026 returned to South America with a sold‑out Farmasi Arena hosting 26,000 fans and drawing over 1.1 million peak online viewers . Against this electric backdrop, Team Vitality delivered a commanding 3‑0 victory over Team Spirit in the Grand Final—making them the first team in Counter‑Strike history to win two consecutive ESL Grand Slams .

The Road to the Grand Final

The tournament began with 16 teams competing for six playoff spots. Vitality advanced from the group stage with a 2‑1 record and then swept NAVI 2‑0 in the quarterfinals . In the semis, they overcame FURIA—despite the home crowd’s support—with another 2‑0 win to reach the final .