Stage 1 of the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 became one of the most unforgiving phases of the tournament: three days of matches shaped the top 8, while eight teams said their goodbyes to the Major. Some fought until the very last round, some collapsed in decisive series, and others simply could not adapt to the pace set by the favorites. Among those eliminated are seasonal sensations, legendary organizations, and regional hopefuls who arrived in Budapest with their biggest expectations. Below is a full breakdown of every team, their run, and the key reasons behind their exit.
9–11th place — Legacy, NRG, Fluxo: teams that fell one step short
- Legacy (9–11th) — a strong start, but a painful finish
Legacy didn’t open Stage 1 in the best way — a 13–10 loss to FlyQuest — but quickly bounced back with clean wins over Rare Atom (13–6) and RED Canids (13–6). However, the team soon began to lose momentum: a 2–0 defeat to B8 and a 2–1 loss to PARIVISION became critical. In the decisive series their structure collapsed, exposing issues on the T sides and ultimately closing the door to the top 8.
- NRG (9–11th) — a roster change before the Major proved fatal
Losing nitr0 and bringing in daps as a stand-in became the defining factor of their performance. The team defeated NiP in a BO1 (13–7), but fell short in BO3 series against M80 (0–2), Imperial (0–2), and fnatic (1–2). In crucial moments, the lack of synergy and limited map pool depth became painfully obvious.
- Fluxo (9–11th) — Brazil’s most painful collapse in Budapest
Fluxo struggled with consistency from day one: moments of brilliance alternated with major setbacks. A weak showing against FlyQuest (0–2) at the brink of qualification, followed by a loss to NiP (0–2) and a decisive BO3 defeat to FaZe (2–1), knocked them out. Clutch rounds and T-side structure repeatedly worked against them, sealing their exit.
12–14th place — GamerLegion, The Huns, RED Canids: the fight was there, but not enough
- GamerLegion (12–14th) — the downfall after rough BO1s
GL opened Stage 1 with a painful 10–13 loss to Fluxo, then fell to RED Canids before defeating Rare Atom 2–0. But when it mattered most, the team couldn’t regroup and were swept 2–0 by PARIVISION. Their biggest issues were weak CT openings and repeated failures on Nuke.
- The Huns (12–14th) — fighting the leaders, but lacking the class
The Huns showed character, defeating Lynn Vision 2–0 when they were one step away from elimination and later challenging B8 and PARIVISION. However, a 0–2 loss to Imperial and overall inconsistency between maps became decisive. Their fluctuating tempo made it too easy for opponents to adapt.
- RED Canids (12–14th) — a bright opening, followed by a steady decline
RED Canids opened with a close loss to fnatic (14–16) but then delivered a strong win over GL (13–6). From there, their form collapsed: a 6–13 loss to Legacy, poor CT sides throughout key matches, and finally a 2–1 defeat to FaZe. Despite their attempts to fight back, the loss felt inevitable. The potential was there — the execution was not.
15–16th place — Lynn Vision, Rare Atom: the Chinese scene exits in full
- Lynn Vision (15–16th) — no chances against the top teams
Lynn Vision could not challenge any of the favorites. Losses to FaZe (5–13), The Huns (0–2), and NiP (3–13) cemented them at the bottom of the standings. Their main weaknesses were an unstable AWP presence and low-impact entry fragging.
- Rare Atom (15–16th) — no map wins, no victories
Rare Atom failed to win a single match in Stage 1: Legacy (6–13), GamerLegion (0–2), and Imperial (11–13). Their playstyle was too slow and predictable, making adaptation easy for opponents. No comebacks, no closed advantages — a deserved 15–16 finish.
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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The toughest stage of the Major leaves eight teams out of the race
Stage 1 of the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 turned into a brutal battleground: eight teams were eliminated, including one North American roster, two Brazilian squads, two Chinese representatives, and several European teams that fell far short of expectations. The final eight move on, while these teams will have to regroup after the Major — with many questions to answer.
