The Skin.Club Pick’em Challenge is back — this time for the StarLadder Major Budapest 2025, giving Counter-Strike fans a fresh chance to test their game sense and earn legendary rewards. Predict the outcomes of every stage, earn points for correct guesses, and climb through the tiers to unlock exclusive knives, gloves, and skins.
This Pick’em is bigger and better than ever — updated rules, improved rewards, and the grand prize is the one and only AWP | Dragon Lore. But to reach the top, you’ll need more than luck. Let’s break down how to make the perfect Pick’em for the Budapest Major 2025.
How to Make Smart Predictions
Team Form Matters
Form is everything. Ignore rankings — focus on what teams show right now. Look at their last 5–10 matches, who they faced, and how close the games were. Winning against Tier-3 squads means nothing if they collapse versus top opposition.
Teams like MOUZ and Spirit have proven consistency through long series, while others — like Falcons — can be dominant one week and lost the next. Momentum going into the Major often defines who survives the early chaos.
read more
Roster Stability
Stability gives structure, but changes can spark results. MOUZ and Vitality have played together all year — safe, disciplined picks. Yet Fnatic and The MongolZ, after recent updates, might surprise with new energy and unpredictable style. Solid cores are reliable for “advance”, while fresh lineups can be risky 3-0 gambles.
Map Pool and Playstyle
If there’s one thing that decides early-stage matches, it’s the map pool. A team with a deep pool can adapt, surprise, and survive; a one-map team usually falls apart the moment their comfort pick is banned. Just remember Vitality at the last Major — they lost their first BO1 to Legacy, a massive upset, simply because they were forced off their best maps and underestimated the opponent’s preparation.
Travel, Pressure, and Fatigue
Travel and environment matter more than people think. Teams flying in from China or Mongolia — like Lynn Vision or The Huns — face time-zone shifts and minimal rest before Stage 1. Meanwhile, European teams will feel more comfortable in Budapest, with shorter travel and larger fan presence.
Pressure also plays a role: for younger players, playing in front of a home-crowd arena can be both motivation and distraction. When predicting early matches, give preference to well-traveled rosters with LAN experience.
Don’t Follow the Crowd
Everyone loves picking the same “safe” names — but that’s often how Pick’ems are lost. If 70% of users pick FaZe for 3-0, you gain nothing by following the herd. It’s usually smarter to place favorites like Vitality or MOUZ in the “advance” category and save your 3-0 slot for an underrated, stable lineup on form — teams like Fnatic or Aurora can easily deliver clean runs. Think strategically: guaranteed points are worth more than risky glory picks.
read more
How Pick’em Works on Skin.Club
Skin.Club’s Pick’em Challenge uses the official Counter-Strike format. You’ll predict how teams will perform in each stage of the StarLadder Major 2025 — from the Stage 1 to the Playoffs. Your task is simple:
- Pick one team to go 3-0 (undefeated).
- Pick one team to go 0-3 (no wins).
- Pick seven teams you believe will advance to the next stage.
Each correct prediction earns you 2 points. The more points you earn, the higher your tier and the better your prizes.
Reward Tiers:
- 95 points: Silver Tier — A chance to win M4A1-S | Liquidation, AWP | Corticera, P250 | Muertos, and more.
- 135 points: Gold Tier — Includes Bowie Knife | Lore, M4A4 | Hellish, AWP | Hyper Beast and more.
- 175 points: Diamond Tier — Features Ursus Knife | Fade, Navaja Knife | Doppler, AK-47 | Nightwish and more.
- Top scorer: Platinum Tier — AWP | Dragon Lore.
Skin.Club Pick’em Schedule
StarLadder Major Budapest 2025 will run from November 24 to December 14, with the Pick’em Challenge active from November 10 until the final day of the Major. Detailed Stage Schedule:
read more
- Stage 1: November 24 – November 27
- Stage 2: November 29 – December 2
- Stage 3: December 4 – 7
- Playoffs: December 11 – 14
Pro Tips
- Watch the matches — focus on team communication and energy, not just scorelines.
- Keep screenshots of your picks for reference.
- Don’t panic-swap at the last minute — trust your analysis.
- Most importantly — enjoy it. The Pick’em isn’t just a contest — it’s a way to dive deeper into the Major experience.
The Skin.Club Pick’em Challenge for the Budapest Major 2025 is your chance to test your esports IQ, outsmart the crowd, and win incredible prizes. Analyze, predict, and play smart — and you might be the one to claim the legendary Dragon Lore. Start your Pick’em journey on November 10 — and prove your CS knowledge in the biggest Major of the year.
