Over the past few weeks,
Team Vitality have rediscovered a sense of momentum. After two seasons below the team’s expectations and a hesitant start to 2026, the Bees experienced a turning point at
the Rocket League Boston Major by reaching the final of the competition. Since then, the Hive have claimed two EU Opens and therefore arrive as the region’s first seed for the second Major of the season, on home soil in Paris.
The competition begins this Wednesday and will run until Sunday, with the playoffs taking place in front of 20,000 spectators at La Défense Arena. Just a few hours before the start of the event,
Alexis “zen” Bernier spoke in an exclusive interview with
Sheep Esports about the early months of this roster and the team’s collective mindset.
After your final at the last Major in Boston, how are you approaching this new Major in Paris?
Alexis “zen” Bernier: “I’m approaching it very calmly. We’ve won two regionals out of three this split, so there’s really no reason to overthink things. The goal is mainly to go in, enjoy it, and give everything during matches. In the end, everything will be decided on the pitch. Whatever happens outside of that doesn’t really matter. We are five, we are a team, so we stay focused on that and move forward together.
After two more complicated years, has this return to winning ways been a relief for you and the team?
zen: Honestly, it’s been fine. I think I’ve handled losing periods quite well. Today, I’m growing and becoming more mature, so it’s easier to deal with. When you’ve mostly known winning and then start losing that often, it’s naturally difficult at first. But over time, I’ve learned to manage it better. I think I learn quite quickly and I’m also improving in that aspect, so it’s positive.
Beyond results, do you feel a real improvement in your level since the Boston Major final?
zen: The top 2 in Boston already did us a lot of good, especially in terms of confidence. But yes, I think we improved a lot between Boston and the first regional. We worked a lot. After the break, despite some personal complications — I was stuck in Dubai for two weeks because of the war — as soon as I got back, we immediately went back to work on many things. And then we came back and won straight away, so it shows that the work paid off.
You mentioned a turning point after the Boston final. What did that actually change for you?
zen: Before Boston, we were coming in without much in mind. We didn’t really set expectations: we just took matches one by one without projecting too far ahead. And then suddenly we finished top 2. We went from being seen as a top 4 team to a team capable of reaching a final, and that did a lot of good for everyone. Even on LAN, it gave us confidence and confirmed that we had the level to achieve those kinds of results. I think we were still finding ourselves as a team. There was also the language barrier. People often think it was a big issue, but in reality, we already understood each other quite well. It was mainly small adjustments. Now, we are much more connected in-game, so it works a lot better.
Did the switch to English, in your first experience at this level, with Gaspar "stizzy" Rosalen Andres’ arrival slow down your progression?
zen: Yes, it was something to improve. But I’ve always liked English in general. It’s a language I’m interested in, so I’ve always wanted to get better at it. And with the international move, it was the right time to do so. I was very motivated, and I learned quite quickly.
With these two more difficult seasons, what has it brought you as a player today?
zen: It taught me how to handle defeat better. At first, I dealt with losses very poorly. But over time, I grew and realised you can’t always win, and sometimes others are simply better in the moment. So yes, it mainly made me evolve in that regard, I’ve gained maturity.
You are in the same group as KC, so you’ll face them again in competition, but without a crowd this time. Is that a special match for you?
zen: We already faced them in Boston in groups, and it went well for us with a reverse sweep. I’m fairly confident. I think we are better on LAN, and even right now we are in better form, so I’m confident. And more generally, I enjoy playing against KC. It always makes for great matches, so I’m pretty hyped for that one.
I was asking mainly in relation to the French crowd: it would have been even more significant to see you play that match here in playoffs. Would that means something to you?
zen: It depends, because if we meet in the lower bracket, it would be a match that would hurt a bit on both sides. But yes, with the French crowd, it would be insane.
Teams reaching the final go through five days of high-pressure competition. How do you mentally prepare for that rhythm, and how do you maintain this level of performance day after day, especially in the evenings between matches?
zen: We have a staff behind us, especially Eversax (Benjamin Wagner) and Gauthier Klauss [Team manager]. Gauthier was a high-level athlete, so he knows exactly what it involves. Personally, they help me a lot, whether it’s sleep or the mental side outside the game. So I’d say he’s the one who supports me most in that regard.
Your organisation’s Counter Striker division won the Major in Paris. Did you speak with them to see how they experienced it and approached the tournament?
zen: [Laugh] No, I didn’t really speak with them, to be honest. I’m focused on our team, and that’s it.”
