In the high-stakes world of professional Counter-Strike 2, where careers can be as fleeting as a well-placed smoke grenade, sustaining peak performance and motivation is a challenge few truly master. For Dan “apEX” Madesclaire, the revered captain of Team Vitality, this challenge has taken on a unique dimension: how do you keep pushing when you`ve already won almost everything?
The Burden of Success: “What More Can We Win?”
Team Vitality`s recent trophy haul has been nothing short of phenomenal, culminating in their victory at the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 and a dominant run through virtually every other tournament they`ve entered this year. Such unprecedented success, while enviable, brings an unexpected psychological hurdle. As apEX candidly shared on the “All About CS” podcast, the mental game shifts significantly when you`re at the very top:
Honestly, it`s very difficult [to maintain the same motivation in the team]. It`s incredibly hard to find the right words. Imagine what`s in the guys` heads: `We`ve collected seven out of eight trophies, what else can we win?` And you constantly need to set new goals.
Indeed, a curious predicament: the “burden” of unparalleled achievement. For most, the pursuit of success is fueled by the hunger for the first win, the initial taste of victory. For a team like Vitality, it`s about finding new mountains to climb when the highest peaks already bear your flag. One might almost feel a touch of irony for their “suffering” at having too many trophies.
Beyond Trophies: Setting Audacious New Goals
apEX`s solution isn`t to simply rest on laurels; it`s to weave even grander tapestries of ambition. His philosophy is remarkably straightforward: if you`ve conquered the current summit, immediately identify a taller one. He recalls a conversation from a year prior where he declared his desire to win IEM Katowice, IEM Cologne, and a Major before retiring – a feat he has now accomplished with precise, almost alarming, accuracy.
His response to this triumph? Escalation. “The only important thing is to set new goals,” he asserts. The current targets aren`t just about winning a tournament, but about etching their name deeper into the annals of CS2 history, defining a new dynasty:
- The Second Grand Slam: Why stop at one? The challenge now is to become one of the rare teams to secure this ultimate achievement twice, a true testament to sustained dominance.
- Record-Breaking Dominance: “Why don`t we start breaking records? This is what we have to do now. We have to challenge Astralis and become the only team to win more than ten trophies in a year, for example. We need to fight.” This isn`t just about winning, but about surpassing historical benchmarks.
- Consecutive Major Victories: A second Major win in a row would elevate them into an elite club alongside legends like Fnatic and Astralis, cementing their place among the all-time greats.
- IEM Cologne Back-to-Back: A feat previously achieved by only a select few, notably SK Gaming. This goal proves that even in victory, there are always unique milestones to conquer.
It`s an almost audacious mindset, transforming past successes into mere stepping stones for future, grander achievements. This isn`t just about winning; it`s about forging an undeniable legacy.
The Uncompromising Grind: Leading by Example
Setting ambitious goals is one thing; achieving them requires relentless, often grueling, effort. apEX isn`t just a strategist or motivator; he`s an embodiment of the unyielding grind. He recounts his pre-Major regimen, where he was hitting over a thousand kills a day on FACEIT, despite having other “work” – presumably intensive team duties and tactical preparations.
I would play literally every day. A month before the Major, I was getting more than a thousand kills a day. Even though I had other work and needed to prepare for games, I still did those thousand kills, I played FACEIT. I had no time for anything else, but I still did all that, because that`s the recipe for victory.
This personal dedication fuels his uncompromising expectations for his teammates. He doesn`t shy away from applying pressure, constantly checking their engagement, their practice hours, and their overall commitment. It`s a form of tough love, a direct approach designed to maintain the standards that elevated them to the top. “Everyone knows that`s exactly what I`ll do,” he notes. It`s about ensuring every member adheres to the rigorous path necessary for sustained excellence.
The Edge of the Abyss: Understanding True Greatness
Interestingly, apEX also reflects on the subtle, often painful, realization of true peak performance. “You only realize [how good you are] when you fall from those positions,” he explained. This insight speaks volumes about the ephemeral nature of being at the absolute top. A slight dip, a moment of complacency, and the journey back is “unrealistically difficult.” It serves as a stark reminder that staying at the summit requires perpetual vigilance and an acute awareness of one`s own standing.
Even for apEX himself, the break after the Austin Major was a complete mental reset. “I completely stopped thinking about CS. No strategies, nothing, just taking time for myself.” Yet, the passion invariably resurfaces, proving that true dedication can`t be contained. “Today we went on Train, and I had two new ideas… I could quickly focus on CS.” This ability to disengage and then re-engage with renewed perspective is crucial for preventing burnout and fostering continuous creativity, even in a veteran player.
The Path Forward: An “Incredible Year” on the Horizon
ApEX is pragmatic. He doesn`t guarantee another unprecedented string of victories, acknowledging that their current run is a “once-in-a-lifetime” phenomenon, a rare convergence of talent and timing. Yet, his belief in Team Vitality`s potential remains unshaken. “We can win three more tournaments [this year],” he states with quiet conviction, a promise rather than a boast.
His vision for Team Vitality is clear: a relentless pursuit of new records, a commitment to unparalleled individual and collective effort, and an unyielding desire to etch their names deeper into esports history. For fans, it promises an exciting journey as apEX and Team Vitality strive not just to win, but to transcend, proving that even at the pinnacle, true champions never stop climbing.
Finley Holt