Team Vitality Exclusive Interview - Insights into CS2 Esports

As Counter-Strike 2 ushers in a new era of competitive play, few teams have embodied its intensity quite like Team Vitality - a global powerhouse at the heart of the game’s most thrilling moments. In partnership with Stake, Team Vitality continues to push the boundaries of what it means to compete at the highest level.

In this exclusive interview, Stake sits down with Rémy “XTQZZZ” Quoniam, Head Coach of Team Vitality, to uncover his thoughts on the current state of CS2’s competitive Esports scene - from the fairness of the new VRS ranking system and the relentless Tier 1 tournament schedule, to his insights on map rotations, weapon balance, and the emergence of young talent across the esports landscape.

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VRS System: What are the pros and cons of the current VRS ranking system? Do you think it’s fair that Tier 1 teams can stay at the top while playing fewer events?

I don’t think Tier 1 teams play fewer events. For example, Team Vitality will have played 16 events this year, over a span of 30 weeks. We’ve attended all the top tournaments, and even though our season has been intense, we still need to keep grinding. During the group stage of ESL Pro League 22, we even ranked top 6 in the VRS, that’s pretty crazy.

Is it realistically possible for Tier 2 teams to climb the rankings in this structure?

Tier 2 teams need to perform consistently if they want to climb the rankings. It’s still possible, but if you’re a new team without an established core, it’s a nightmare. After a year, the new system has made it clear that LAN events matter the most. And that’s exactly what Counter-Strike is about.

How do you personally view the system, and what adjustments would you like to see?

One thing I really dislike about the current seeding is that we sometimes end up facing the same team in the first or second round of the group stage for two or three tournaments in a row, even though our rankings are different. I’m not sure how this can be fixed, but at the end of the day, Counter-Strike remains an open circuit. Everyone gets their shot, so you just have to keep grinding.

Map Pool: The map pool is always a controversial topic. Do you think competitive CS should rotate maps more frequently, or should we stick with the same ones for consistency? As professionals, what do you prefer? Is there a map that’s currently out of the pool that you really miss — and why?

I’m not sure the map pool is really a controversial topic. Changing one map after each Major or once a year is fine by me. What I don’t like is when a map gets brought back without any real changes, it’s frustrating because it feels like it was removed for no reason. Personally, I’d love to see Cache return instead of Mirage.

Why? I love both Cache and Mirage (a lot of action happens on those maps), but Mirage hasn’t seen any real updates in ages, and it’s starting to feel a bit stale.

Tournament Schedule: Do you think it’s time to control the number of events on the calendar? Should there really be a Tier 1 event every week, or is the schedule too demanding?

Obviously yes, it would be great for the fans, for the hype, and for the overall spectacle. But if we go down that path, we have to accept the end of the “open circuit” and also less money for players. It sounds unrealistic to me, and I don’t think that’s the direction Valve wants to take.

Recent CS2 Updates: What changes introduced to CS2 this year do you find the most positive or useful — both for gameplay and for the community?

For the community, I’m not sure. But I do think the current CT-side economy is a good change.

Brazil’s Performance: Recent results from Brazilian teams — do you see them as a real comeback for the region, or are they benefiting from less competitive events?

Fewer competitive events? I don’t think so. This isn’t surprising to me, I expected them to grow stronger over the past two years. They have a large player base and a massive community, which is undoubtedly great for Counter-Strike and the scene.

Life of a Pro Player: What is the toughest and the easiest part of life as a professional CS player?

The toughest part as a coach is finding a balance between Counter-Strike and family life. As I mentioned before, being on the road for at least 30 weeks a year leaves little time to manage personal life and care for your family.

On the other hand, if you have a poor performance in one tournament, you have the chance to bounce back the following week.

Young Talent & Development: Many organisations are signing teenage players early to develop them into professionals. In your opinion, what is the ideal age to sign a first professional contract and fully dedicate yourself to CS2?

That’s a tough question because it really depends on your country, culture, and local circumstances. In France, for example, becoming a professional before the age of 18 is very complicated due to existing obligations, such as school commitments. There’s a need to develop pathways that allow young talents to balance education and early esports careers.

Events in China: More Tier 1 events are coming to China this year and next. Traveling there can be challenging, but the audience and local support are incredible. What’s your take on competing in China?

Yes, that’s true, it’s not the easiest trip. I do believe it’s important for us to participate in events in China. I’m still surprised that more top Chinese teams don’t compete internationally, but hopefully that will change in the future. Seeing the community, the fans, and their passion, there’s no reason why it shouldn’t happen.

Favourite Tournament Location: Is there a tournament or city where you would always be ready to play — considering the atmosphere, fans, and overall experience?

I would say the USA. I’ve always enjoyed going there, and I also won my first Major in Austin. The crowd is incredible and really adds to the experience.

Major Rotation: Majors are now rotating between different organisers and cities. What do you see as the pros and cons of this approach?

Two Majors are sufficient; I don’t see any issue with that.

Weapon Balance: Which weapon do you think deserves a buff, and which should be nerfed? Why?

Honestly, it really depends on the meta and the maps being played. But if I had to pick:

Buff: Some of the pistols, like the P250 or CZ, could use a slight buff in certain situations. They’re useful, but at high-level play, they often feel underwhelming compared to rifles.

Nerf: The AK-47 is still very strong, especially in the right hands. Its one-tap potential on the head is huge, so any minor adjustments that slightly reduce consistency could balance the game without killing its identity.

Overall, it’s all about maintaining weapon variety and rewarding skill while keeping the game fair.

Looking Ahead to 2026: If you could design the ideal competitive season, what changes would you want to see in 2026 — in terms of events, rankings, and overall circuit structure?

I don’t think there is a “perfect” season. I appreciate the open circuit, as it allows any team to grind and climb the rankings, which creates many compelling storylines. At the same time, the VRS system remains a topic that could be made fairer.

Another key point is calendar management: ensuring teams have enough time at home between tournaments. For example, this year we had seven consecutive weeks of competition, which was quite demanding. I’m not sure how feasible it is to improve this when there are 16 tournaments on the schedule, but it’s something that deserves consideration for the well-being of players and staff.