Team Vitality, led by French IGL Dan "apEX" Madesclaire, has achieved what many believed was impossible. At IEM Rio 2026, after lifting the trophy at the Farmasi Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Team VItality became the first squad in history to win back-to-back ESL Grand Slam events.

Team Vitality claimed the coveted gold bars, representing an additional $1 million in prize money (roughly R16.4 million) that goes directly to the players, on stage in Rio de Janeiro, beating Team Spirit 3-0 in the Grand Final.

For those who don't know, the ESL Grand Slam (previously named Intel Grand Slam), awards the first team that wins four S-Tier events organized by ESL during a window of 10 consecutive events with the $1 million prize money. One of the four events MUST be an IEM Cologne, an IEM Kraków (formerly Katowice), or an ESL Major Championship.

To win their second ESL Grand Slam in a row, Team Vitality lifted the following trophies:

• IEM Dallas 2025
• ESL Pro League Season 22
• IEM Kraków 2026
• IEM Rio 2026

Impressive, right? Of course, it is! It's a history-making, record-breaking feat, after all. However, there is one bit of info that's even more impressive. Team Vitality's Estonian rifler, Robin "ropz" Kool, has become the only person in history to have won three Grand Slams, as he previously won one with FaZe Clan before joining apEX's men.

There is no doubt that we are living in the Team Vitality era, and there's little doubt remaining that they are the most dominant team in Counter-Strike history.

Header image via ESL.