Virtus.pro came out on top in a tense three-map battle against FaZe during the opening round of BLAST Open Lisbon 2025, winning 2-1 with map scores of 12-16 on Anubis, 16-13 on Ancient, and a flawless 13-0 performance on Dust2. This result sends them to the upper-bracket semi-final, where they will meet the red-hot Vitality roster in a bid to secure a playoff spot. For FaZe, the loss means a drop to the lower bracket, where they will face Astralis in a do-or-die matchup.
The Russians opted to kick off the series with a bold pick of Anubis, but their gamble nearly backfired. FaZe responded quickly, capitalizing on a second-round eco win led by Håvard Nygaard and a 1v3 clutch from Jonathan Jablonowski to control the early game. Virtus.pro did manage to claw back with some strong plays on the T side, including a key clutch from Kaisar Faiznurov, pushing the map into overtime. Ultimately, FaZe’s resilience, bolstered by Finn Andersen’s standout defensive display, secured them the map at 16-12.
Ancient played out in a similarly competitive fashion. FaZe once again took the opening pistol, but Virtus.pro steadily pulled the game back to a halftime draw. In the second half, the Russian side built momentum and led 11-8 before FaZe mounted a late surge to bring it level at 11-all. However, despite a heroic triple kill from rain on the B site, Virtus.pro held firm and closed it out 16-13, powered by a 30-kill performance from Timur Marev.
Dust2 was expected to deliver a thrilling conclusion, but instead turned into a one-sided show. Virtus.pro completely dismantled FaZe across all fronts. Their dominance on the server was unquestionable, leading to a rare and crushing 13-0 sweep that sealed their place in the next round and handed FaZe one of their most humbling losses in recent memory.
Virtus.pro appear to be turning a corner following an inconsistent start to the year, one which saw them miss out on a spot at ESL Pro League Season 21. That absence may have provided them with the time and focus needed to regroup, as reflected in their strong performance in Lisbon. While team captain Denis Sharipov has downplayed any dramatic internal changes, noting a personal focus on growth and emotional composure, the results speak for themselves.
This win also carries extra weight in the context of the BLAST.tv Austin Major qualification race. Currently trailing Astralis in the European rankings, Virtus.pro’s path to Stage 2 of the Major could become much clearer with a deep run in this event — especially with the Danes already in danger in the lower bracket.
