B8 made an important step on the path to the grand final of StarLadder StarSeries Fall 2025. The Ukrainian organization overcame Gentle Mates 2:1 and secured a chance to play against Ninjas in Pyjamas in the consolidation final. Gentle Mates stopped at the top 4, despite a bright start to the series.
TOURNAMENT CONTEXT
StarLadder StarSeries Fall 2025 is one of the main LAN tournaments of the autumn. The winner not only claims the title but also earns significant ranking points, influencing qualification for top winter season events. For B8, this success is already historic — the team came closer than ever to the grand final of a tournament of this level. Gentle Mates, in turn, exit the competition but firmly establish themselves among Europe’s competitive rosters.
MATCH TIMELINE
- Inferno (Gentle Mates pick) — 13:10 for Gentle Mates
The Spanish organization started confidently on their own pick. sausoL (23–13, rating 1.53) dominated the duels, while MartinezSa and alex provided stability. For B8, weaknesses in alex666’s game led to the loss of the first map.
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- Mirage (B8 pick) — 13:3 for B8
The Ukrainian organization quickly equalized the score. headtr1ck (15–6, rating 1.53) and npl (14–8, rating 1.85) neutralized all of Gentle Mates’ comeback attempts. The advantage was total, sending the match to a deciding map.
- Ancient (decider) — 13:9 for B8
The final map became a statement from B8. kensizor (22–16, rating 1.51) added aggression at key moments, while esenthial (21–14, rating 1.10) confidently shut down sites. Gentle Mates fought until the end, but the poor showing from dav1g and mopoz cost them their chances.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH
Daniil “headtr1ck” Valitov was the key figure of the series. His confident play across all maps, consistency in decisive moments, and high impact on Mirage and Ancient secured B8 the opportunity for a breakthrough.
- K-D: 50–35 (+15)
- ADR: 74.9
- Rating 3.0: 1.31
- MVP vote share: 63.9%
HEAD-TO-HEAD
The 2025 record between the teams now stands at 3–1 in favor of B8. The Ukrainian club confirmed its superiority both psychologically and tactically, outplaying the Spaniards in decisive matches.
WHAT AWAITS THE TEAMS
- B8
B8 advance to the consolidation final, where they will face Ninjas in Pyjamas tomorrow. This is a chance to solidify their status among the world’s top 20 and, for the first time in the organization’s history, break into the grand final of a StarSeries-level tournament.
- Gentle Mates
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Gentle Mates finish in the top 4, but the result can be considered progress. Currently ranked #34 in the world, the team proved they can fight against more experienced opponents but need stability from key players in order to compete at an even higher level.
ANALYSIS AND CONCLUSION
Before the match, Gentle Mates had the edge thanks to their confident Inferno, but B8 showed resilience and adaptability. The 2:1 victory demonstrates that the Ukrainian organization has learned to play under pressure and pull off comebacks in decisive moments.
Now B8 face Ninjas in Pyjamas, in a clash that will determine the last grand final participant against Natus Vincere. Gentle Mates, meanwhile, exit the tournament with a top-4 finish — a solid result that can serve as a foundation for further growth.
