The battle grows even tougher. Stage 2 of StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 has concluded, and only eight teams continue their journey toward the biggest trophy of the year. Giants confirm their power, underdogs shock the world — and ahead lie even fiercer clashes, where every round can decide the champion’s destiny.
What advancement to Stage 3 means
Stage 2 is the transition point between a dream and reality. Here, teams no longer have room for mistakes: either they show character, discipline, and adaptation in demanding Bo3s — or they fall just one step short of their goal. Reaching Stage 3 means being among the strongest, where every match becomes a step toward the legendary playoffs.
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3:0 place — dominance, structure, stability
FaZe — the most consistent team of the stage
FaZe advanced here already from Stage 1, where they built their foundation of stability. In Stage 2 they won three matches in a row, defeating Passion UA, Aurora, and NiP. This is the FaZe that calmly closes tough rounds and keeps tempo control where others break under pressure.
Key advantages included:
- strong entry impact
- disciplined tempo and macro control
- stability on Nuke, Mirage, and Inferno
Natus Vincere — Europe’s most structured powerhouse
NAVI secured victories over FlyQuest, Imperial, and B8, proving that their system works against any opponent’s style. Clean rotations, stable decision-making, and excellent map reading place them firmly among the championship favorites.
Their success was driven by:
- Mirage as the most reliable map
- consistency in post-plants
- structured synergy under all conditions
3:1 place — advancing through character and consistency
B8 — masters of late-round control
B8 advance through a Major stage for the second time. Liquid and fnatic failed to match their round control, while 3DMAX lacked variety in attack. Even in the loss to NAVI, the team showcased quality.
Notable strengths:
- clutch execution
- Ancient and Mirage as comfort maps
- adaptation in every Bo3
PARIVISION — fearless and unpredictable
Victories over Aurora, Liquid, and NiP confirm PARIVISION are no fluke. The team keeps breaking opponents’ scripts through aggression, unconventional decisions, and pure individual confidence.
Reasons for their success:
- Overpass — 100% win rate
- Dust2 and Mirage as core strengths
- fearless style under pressure
Imperial — Brazilian discipline under pressure
The Brazilians survived multiple razor-edge moments, but discipline carried them through fnatic and M80, showcasing a high level of defensive stability. This is a team that doesn’t break under pressure — it thrives in it.
Core strengths included:
- Nuke — 75%, Overpass — 72.7%
- experience and composure as primary weapons
- chelo and skullz setting the tone in crucial moments
3:2 place — survival, discipline, and decisive breakthroughs
Team Liquid — rebuilt identity and a flawless final step
Liquid completed one of the biggest turnarounds of Stage 2, climbing from 0–2 to 3–2 and securing a place in Stage 3 through discipline, structure, and rising individual form. The final match against Astralis became their strongest performance of the tournament — clean map control, confident clutch play, and standout leadership from siuhy and ultimate.
Key strengths:
- elite mid-round structure
- strong AWP–rifle synergy
- stability on Nuke and Mirage
- ultimate delivering one of the best performances of Stage 2
Liquid enter Stage 3 as one of the most improved teams of the event.
Passion UA — resilience, identity, and the breakthrough moment
One of the biggest stories of Stage 2. After a chaotic start to the stage, Passion UA found momentum exactly when it mattered most. The decisive win over M80 showcased maturity: grim delivered an MVP-level series, JТ and n1ck stabilized the map control, and the team finally demonstrated a fully cohesive structure.
What defines their success:
- exceptional discipline on Inferno
- confident late-round structure on Train
- grim in peak form
- the ability to adapt after early setbacks
This is the most complete version of Passion UA the tournament has seen — and their first-ever entry into Stage 3.
3DMAX — structural perfection and decisive dominance
3DMAX delivered one of the most one-sided 2–2 matches of the entire Major, dismantling Ninjas in Pyjamas with mature, confident, and fully synchronized gameplay. Their win was built on flawless mid control, elite AWP impact from Maka, and high discipline in every key duel.
Why they succeeded:
- Ancient — total domination through pace and precision
- Train — controlled every timing and rotation
- consistent man-advantage conversion
- Maka producing one of the best individual performances of Stage 2
3DMAX enter Stage 3 as a legitimate dark horse with both structure and firepower to surprise top teams.
Favorites confirmed expectations, underdogs wrote new stories
Stage 2 of StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 delivered a top-eight lineup where favorites proved their strength while underdogs earned global respect. FaZe and NAVI showcased structure and control. B8 and Imperial advanced through nerve and composure. PARIVISION continued to surprise with fearless aggression. Liquid, Passion UA, and 3DMAX completed the picture, surviving the intense 3–2 pool and proving that discipline and resilience can rewrite any script. Their victories finalized the strongest possible lineup for Stage 3.
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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.
