Vitality have made the most of their packed 2026 calendar — five consecutive trophies including BLAST Rivals and back-to-back ESL Grand Slams. According to Robin ‘ropz’ Kool, IEM Atlanta 2026 isn’t one of the priorities. ‘We didn’t practice,’ the Estonian rifler told HLTV after Vitality’s playoff qualification.
The Atlanta wobble
The form has matched the framing. Vitality opened with a win over BC.Game, then suffered a surprise 1-2 upset to BetBoom. apEX called it publicly: ‘We definitely played really bad today.’ The team recovered with elimination wins over FaZe and B8 to lock in the playoff spot, but the Swiss path was bumpier than the dominance of recent tournaments suggested.
‘Complacency is not an issue’
ropz pushed back on the natural read that the team has eased off after the trophy run. He credited the coaching staff and internal structure for maintaining motivation, even with reduced practice time and a packed schedule. The team’s BLAST Rivals 3-0 over NAVI three weeks ago was anchored by his clutch rounds in the grand final.
NAVI rematch incoming
Vitality face NAVI in the quarter-final — exactly the rematch iM framed as the team’s biggest opponent being themselves. ropz noted both potential matchups had interesting storylines: NAVI for the revenge narrative, Legacy for the Austin Major rematch. The quarter-final draw delivered the more publicised version. Vitality remain favoured but the Atlanta wobble has given the matchup a different shape than three weeks ago.
