Imperial continue their run at the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025, securing a crucial 2–0 victory over NRG in the decisive 2–2 elimination match. The Brazilians delivered one of their sharpest performances of the tournament, controlling the pace from start to finish and leaving their opponents without a single real chance. For NRG, this marks the end of the road — the team exits Stage 1, never recovering from the forced swap of nitr0 for daps.
Road to the Major — two completely different stories
The Brazilians opened the event with worrying instability:
- 13–11 vs Rare Atom — a nervous but important win
- 6–13 vs FlyQuest — a disappointing follow-up
- 3–13 vs fnatic — a collapse that dropped them to 1–2
But then Imperial flipped the switch:
- 2–0 The Huns — their first confident BO3 performance
- 2–0 NRG — their best showing of all Stage 1
The team peaked at the exact moment they needed it most — right before the do-or-die BO3 for a Stage 2 spot.
NRG looked promising on Day 1:
- 13–7 vs NiP — a strong start
- 10–13 vs FaZe — a competitive battle
Then the downward spiral began:
- 0–2 vs M80 — the first warning sign
- 0–2 vs fnatic — a heavy blow
- 0–2 vs Imperial — the final collapse
The decisive factor: the unexpected absence of nitr0. Daps, while experienced, simply couldn’t carry both the IGL duties and a full fragging role. The team’s structure broke down, and in high-pressure moments, NRG couldn’t hold their ground.
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Nuke — 13:8. Imperial dismantle NRG’s defense
Imperial picked the map and executed their plan to perfection. NRG attempted their usual tempo-based CT approach, but it quickly became clear that Imperial came to win, not just survive.
- noway tore apart the A-site, winning key duels against Sonic and Xotic
- VINI locked down main and ramp, completely shutting down early NRG pressure
- try consistently won AWP duels, denying Jeorge any freedom
After a 6–6 first half, Imperial simply squeezed NRG out of the map — taking seven rounds in a row. Nuke became the first showcase of complete Brazilian control.
Train — 13:5. Total domination on every inch of the map
NRG picked Train hoping to rely on their structured playstyle — but Imperial were ready.
- try and skullz won every decisive fight on Ivy and Green
- noway shut down upper-site hits with perfect timing
- chelo constantly played ahead of the pace, punishing players before trades were possible
NRG managed only five rounds, most thanks to individual plays by Jeorge. Everything else was dictated entirely by Imperial. 13–5 — the series ended on a brutally one-sided note for the Americans.
Player stats
Match MVP — Kaiky “noway” Santos
- 1.46 rating
- 38–18 K/D
- 90.7 ADR
- 74.4% KAST
- Multiple high-impact multi-kills
- Absolute pace-setter and initiator
Noway delivered one of the best individual performances of all Stage 1 — and the biggest reason Imperial enter the 3–2 pool as favorites.
Team performance — Imperial set the pace, NRG fail to absorb the pressure
The series immediately revealed a stark contrast: Imperial played boldly, fast, and with full confidence, while NRG looked stiff and disorganized.
What worked for Imperial:
- Consistent dominance in opening duels — noway, VINI, and skullz opened rounds with a huge success rate
- Aggressive, adaptive CT setups — try constantly changed positions, denying reads
- Perfect utility usage — Imperial controlled tempo and forced NRG into losing scenarios over and over
What failed NRG:
- No stable trading on the extremities
- Hesitation in site transitions
- Catastrophic mid-round losses
- No alternative game plan on either map
The team looked mentally drained — every lost round added more pressure, and Imperial amplified it relentlessly.
VRS impact
- Imperial: +22 pt (from #37 → #33) — a massive jump that strengthens their seeding chances
- NRG: –17 pt (from #29 → #30) — a drop that will complicate future invite paths
Skin.Club Pick’em Challenge
Running alongside the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 is the Skin.Club Pick’em Challenge — an interactive feature where fans predict match results, choose advancing teams, and earn points throughout the tournament. By making accurate picks, participants unlock rewards ranging from premium skins to rare gloves and knives, with the ultimate prize being the iconic AWP | Dragon Lore.
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Imperial advance, NRG exit the Major
Imperial move forward at 3–2, emerging as one of the strongest teams in the lower pool — discipline, aggression, and stability have become their winning formula. NRG, meanwhile, exit Stage 1 as one of the tournament’s biggest disappointments: without nitr0, they never found their identity and ultimately fell apart.
