Passion UA continue writing one of the most surprising stories of the Major — the Ukrainian-American roster defeated M80 2–1 and secured their spot in Stage 3. Losing the opponent’s pick, bouncing back on Inferno, and delivering an incredibly composed performance on Train — Passion UA played one of their best matches of the tournament.
M80, despite a strong start and quality performances from Lake and slaxz-, are eliminated from Stage 2 after failing to maintain stability in the key moments.
Team Paths — two different trajectories meeting at a decisive point
Passion UA — from early instability to full Teamplay Peak
Their road was far from perfect, but that made the run even more dramatic:
- 10–13 vs FaZe — a respectable fight that showcased their potential
- 13–10 vs MIBR — the first confident display of structure
- 3–13 vs 3DMAX — a painful loss that dropped them to 1–2
- 2–0 vs fnatic — a turning point, restoring confidence and tempo
- 2–1 vs M80 — a victory built on character and stability
Passion UA grew stronger with every match — and grim alongside nick embraced the role of tempo leaders.
M80 — strong start, sudden collapse
The team began the Major with mixed results:
- 6–13 vs Aurora — opening defeat
- 13–11 vs Astralis — a win that surprised many
- 13–10 vs TYLOO — back in the race
- 1–2 vs Imperial — a painful loss sending them to 2–2
- 1–2 vs Passion UA — the final collapse
M80 entered maps well, but their consistency depended almost entirely on the individual impact from Lake and HexT.
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Mirage — 11:13. M80 convert their pick through mid control
The early game was fully under M80’s command: they took over mid, denied Passion UA information, and forced reactive play.
- Lake dominated mid duels
- HexT provided clean entry kills on A
- s1n minimized mistakes in retake scenarios
Passion UA had their chances — grim saved multiple rounds with individual brilliance, and JT stabilized the structure in late-round scenarios. But M80 played the final rounds with more discipline, securing the map.
Inferno — 13:5. Total Passion UA domination
On Inferno, Passion UA looked like a completely different team: calm, structured, disciplined.
- nick shut down Banana control entirely
- grim delivered early-round impact almost every round
- hallzerk held A-site with consistency, denying M80 space
Every attempt by M80 to force aggression ran into perfectly prepared counter-setups. After an 8–4 half, the map was essentially decided.
Train — 13:7. Passion UA’s most mature performance of the tournament
Train became the defining map of the series. Passion UA played calm, intelligent, and perfectly coordinated Counter-Strike.
- JT read every M80 rotation
- kvem locked down upper and Ivy on CT, winning every key duel
- grim produced crucial multikills, swinging eco rounds in their favor
M80 tried fast IV and B hits, but Passion UA consistently met them in advantageous setups. After a 7–5 half, the second half was fully under the Ukrainian roster’s control.
Player Stats
MVP of the Match — Michael “grim” Wince
- 1.40 rating (3 maps)
- 93.2 ADR
- +3.63% swing
- 77.4% KAST
- crucial multikills on Inferno and Train
- broke M80’s economy in key decisive rounds
Grim delivered one of the best individual performances of the entire Major — the clear driving force behind Passion UA’s victory.
Teamplay Breakdown
- Passion UA — structured, disciplined, adaptive
Passion UA produced one of their most complete matches of the event. They balanced discipline with aggression, maintained stable tempo across all maps, and won the majority of trade fights. Their adaptability after losing Mirage was key — especially in the late game on Train, where their rotations and positional control were nearly flawless.
- M80 — strong mechanics, but no Plan B
M80 remained heavily dependent on Lake and HexT — the duo kept them competitive on Mirage and in moments on Train. However, once Passion UA imposed a more structured style, M80’s system began to crumble.
On Inferno, the team lost map control within minutes, and slow, predictable rotations made retakes nearly impossible. In decisive rounds, M80 lacked confidence and cohesion — ultimately sealing their elimination.
Team Reaction to the Victory
- Johnny — proud and energized
Johnny celebrated the team’s mental reset and comeback, posting:
Love that shit, stage 3!! Really woke up on the last two maps, proud of the boys. Now we reset for next stage.
— Johnny (@JTcsgo) December 2, 2025
A concise, emotional captain’s message reflecting their momentum.
- Grim — the Terminator mode
Grim reacted with a short, iconic post:
2-1 M80 and into stage 3 of the major here . BIG W pic.twitter.com/s8O9xZL9iE
— Michael Wince (@1grimcs) December 2, 2025
paired with a Terminator “NO PROBLEM… TERMINATED” GIF — a perfect image of his performance and attitude.
VRS Changes
- Passion UA: +28 pt (#27 → #24) — one of the best gains of the day
- M80: –16 pt (#24 → #25) — a drop that will impact their seeding for 2026
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.
A Pivotal Moment in the Tournament Journey
Passion UA achieve the impossible — they reach Stage 3 after winning a tense 2–1 series and showing their most complete performance of the Major. M80, despite strong individual highlights, exit the event after failing to withstand the pressure in decisive rounds. You can check the full list of teams that qualified for Stage 3, along with a breakdown of the key matches, in our recap StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 — Stage 2.
