The first day of decisive Stage 1 matches has already produced the event’s first two eliminations. Rare Atom and Lynn Vision — two Asian representatives who arrived in Budapest hoping to prove their global competitiveness — ended their Major run in the 0–2 pool. GamerLegion and The Huns looked significantly stronger in both series, securing convincing 2–0 victories and sending their opponents home without a single map win.
First Elimination Match — GamerLegion vs Rare Atom
Inferno — 13:7. GL dismantle Rare Atom’s game plan from the opening rounds
Rare Atom picked Inferno expecting to rely on well-practiced setups, but GL immediately broke their structure:
- REZ was flawless in retakes and opening duels, constantly giving GL the man advantage.
- PR locked down mid, preventing Rare Atom from transitioning into deeper phases of their T-side.
- RA’s attempts to play through Banana or slow A executes repeatedly collapsed against GL’s well-timed rotations and adjustments.
After a 7–5 first half, GamerLegion fully seized the tempo and overwhelmed their opponent with structure and discipline. Rare Atom never won a single key gun round until the map ended.
Overpass — 13:5. GL show full control and adaptation
On Overpass, the skill gap became even clearer:
- Tauson delivered his best map of the season, shutting down every crucial CT position.
- ztr dictated the tempo, constantly reshaping the defensive setup and reading RA’s plans.
- Rare Atom lost the majority of 4v3 situations, failed to convert good economy rounds, and often gave away deaths without any contact.
GL closed the map 13–5 and the series 2–0, eliminating Rare Atom from the tournament.
read more
Player Stats
Match MVP — Fredrik “REZ” Sterner
- 1.47 rating (2 maps)
- 88.9 ADR
- +5.54% swing
- key retakes and stabilize-frags
- 76.3% KAST
REZ was the undeniable leader of the series, changing the outcome of every difficult situation for GL.
Second Elimination Match — The Huns vs Lynn Vision
Ancient — 13:7. The Huns overpower their opponent through duel strength
The Huns picked Ancient and immediately imposed their pace:
- cobrazera dominated duels, denying Lynn Vision any access to Forest or Donut control.
- nIn9 consistently won contact fights in mid, shutting down LV’s attempts to shift tempo.
- Lynn Vision tried applying early pressure toward A, but The Huns read their setups perfectly.
After a 7–5 first half, the Mongolian roster accelerated and closed the map 13–7.
Dust2 — 13:8. The Huns maintain full control of the tempo
Lynn Vision picked Dust2 but couldn’t convert their comfort pick:
- xerolte controlled Long, removing first contact attempts.
- Bart4k and sk0R held the B bombsite even in disadvantageous scenarios.
- LV’s mid-splits and late-round executions collapsed against The Huns’ disciplined positions.
The Huns closed the map 13–8 and secured a clean 2–0 victory.
Player Stats
Match MVP — Anarbilge “cobrazera” Uuganbayar
- 1.49 rating
- 87.2 ADR
- +5.35% swing
- crucial opening kills on Ancient
- consistent impact in every high-pressure round
His performance was the foundation of both map wins.
VRS Changes After Eliminations
- The Huns: +44 pt, #68 → #59
One of the strongest jumps of the day — a historic boost that puts the Mongolian roster back into contention for higher placements.
- Lynn Vision: –24 pt, #28 → #29
A painful drop for one of Asia’s most stable teams in recent years.
- GamerLegion: +17 pt, #20 → #19
A valuable improvement that strengthens GL’s standing among the favorites to survive the 2–2 pool.
- Rare Atom: –4 pt, #54 → #55
A decrease that may impact their future invites and regional ranking.
Pick’em Background
Running alongside the tournament is the Skin.Club Pick’em Challenge — an interactive feature where fans can predict match results, earn points, unlock rewards and level up throughout the event. Prizes include skins, gloves, knives, and the ultimate reward — an AWP | Dragon Lore.
read more
Day Summary: First Eliminations, VRS Shifts, and the New Stage 1 Landscape
Rare Atom and Lynn Vision became the first teams to exit the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 after losing their 0–2 matches. GamerLegion and The Huns advance with key VRS gains and maintain their chances of reaching Stage 2.
Up next are the decisive 2–1 and 1–2 matches, where every round carries the weight of the season — and four more teams risk following RA and LV out of the tournament.
