The Grand Final of StarLadder StarSeries Fall 2025 became the culmination of a five-day marathon that gathered the strongest European lineups. The decisive clash featured two of the most convincing teams of the tournament — Natus Vincere and Ninjas in Pyjamas. The final promised intrigue and drama, as NiP had a chance to take revenge for their upper-bracket loss. However, on the server, the Ukrainian favorites left no room for doubt: 2:0, NAVI lifted the trophy.
Teams’ Road to the Final
NAVI
- Group Stage: victory over 9INE (2:1)
- Quarterfinal: dominant win against Passion UA (2:0)
- Upper Bracket Final: victory over NiP (2:0)
- Grand Final: repeat victory over NiP (2:0)
NAVI went unbeaten throughout the tournament, showing unquestionable dominance.
Ninjas in Pyjamas
- Group Stage: victory over OG (2:0)
- Semifinal: defeated PARIVISION (2:0)
- Upper Bracket Final: loss to NAVI (0:2)
- Lower Bracket Final: victory over B8 (2:0)
- Grand Final: second loss to NAVI (0:2)
NiP showed character and fought their way back through the lower bracket but fell to NAVI for the third time in a row.
Match Chronology
- Nuke (13:7, NiP’s pick)
Ninjas in Pyjamas chose their comfort map Nuke, where they had earned many key wins before. The start looked promising: xKacpersky created space with aggressive entries, while r1nkle provided backup with the AWP. Yet round by round, NAVI took control. iM confidently broke through NiP’s defenses, and w0nderful denied comeback attempts with precise sniping. The first half ended 7:5 for NAVI, and after the side switch, they won six out of seven rounds, closing the map 13:7.
- Inferno (13:10, NAVI’s pick)
The second map brought more drama. NiP put up a fight, with sjuush and ewjerkz saving their team in crucial retakes. They even went into halftime leading 9:6, and it seemed the series might head to Train. But after the switch, iM and makazze took over: the Romanian rifler dominated Banana, while the Albanian newcomer won two key clutches. NAVI completed a powerful comeback to take Inferno 13:10 and the series 2:0.
Player Statistics
Best Player of the Final
The hero of the Grand Final was Mihai “iM” Ivan, who once again proved why he is called the heart of the new NAVI roster.
- K-D: 39–27 (+12)
- ADR: 95.1
- Rating 3.0: 1.49
iM dominated duels, won most of his entry fights, and set the tempo for his team. His stability in decisive moments on Inferno crushed NiP’s hopes of a comeback. His performance became the cornerstone of NAVI’s championship victory.
Team Performances
- NAVI demonstrated the perfect balance between individual brilliance and disciplined teamwork. w0nderful (35–26, 1.43 rating) impressed with his AWP control, b1t showed consistency in clutch situations, while Aleksib provided flawless coordination and rotations. Newcomer makazze fit into the structure seamlessly, adding aggression when it mattered most. The team looked composed, cold-blooded, and truly championship-worthy.
- NiP reached the final through the lower bracket, but lacked the firepower to challenge NAVI on equal terms. Their best performer was xKacpersky (38–32, 1.10 rating), though his efforts weren’t enough. r1nkle struggled with inconsistency on the AWP, Snappi and ewjerkz faltered in key rounds, while sjuush had a tough series (18–30, 0.70 rating). In the end, NiP couldn’t keep up with NAVI’s tempo and lost in straight maps.
Natus Vincere are the champions of StarLadder StarSeries Fall 2025, confirming their status as one of the strongest teams in the world. Their composure, structured play, and individual skill make NAVI real contenders for upcoming major titles.
Ninjas in Pyjamas finish second — a result that highlights their progress but also shows the gap in class between them and NAVI. For NiP, this final brought two lessons: they can compete with the best, but they still lack stability in decisive moments.
