Stage 3 of the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 continued with four crucial matches that reshaped the competitive landscape after the first round. Unlike the opening games, where most favorites held firm, the second wave delivered several surprises — especially from B8 and FaZe, who secured confident victories against high-profile opponents. These four duels completed the formation of the 1–0 and 0–1 brackets, raising the stakes ahead of the push toward the coveted 2–0 scoreline.
paiN vs 3DMAX — 13:10 (Nuke)
paiN stay composed, but bodyy shines as the standout player of the match. Nuke opened at a blistering pace — 3DMAX imposed early aggression, secured seven T-side rounds, and repeatedly broke paiN’s economy. However, once sides switched, paiN regained control: disciplined holds, confident retakes, and reliable work around key positions allowed them to claw back the score and halt the French team’s momentum.
The most eye-catching individual performance belonged to bodyy, whose crucial 1v2 clutch and consistent impact kept 3DMAX competitive throughout the map.
Player of the Match — Alexandre “bodyy” Pianaro
- Rating 3.0: 1.80
- K–D: 24–14
- ADR: 108.6
- Swing: +8.79%
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Vitality vs FaZe — 7:13 (Nuke)
FaZe shock the world’s top-3 team and dismantle Vitality with iron discipline. Vitality entered the matchup as clear favorites, but FaZe delivered one of the strongest defensive halves of the entire Major. Precise rotations, aggressive A-holds, and unwavering composure under pressure allowed them to completely break Vitality’s game plan.
The turning point came from jcobbb, who produced four headshots in Round 13 and closed out a critical 1v2 — a sequence that completely destabilized Vitality.
Player of the Match — Jakub “jcobbb” Pietruszewski
- Rating 3.0: 1.57
- K–D: 19–13
- ADR: 91.3
- KAST: 80.0%
Vitality drop hard in the VRS standings, while FaZe jump confidently into the world’s top 12.
B8 vs Falcons — 13:10 (Ancient)
Ukrainian squad dominates Ancient as npl delivers the best performance of his career. B8 entered the match as underdogs, but showcased elite aim, map control, and composure. Their Ancient was a masterclass of tempo, discipline, and perfectly timed aggression — consistently breaking Falcons’ rotations and dictating every key engagement. The star of the match was npl, who won nearly every duel in decisive positions.
Player of the Match — Andrii “npl” Kukharskyi
- Rating 3.0: 1.73
- K–D: 20–14
- ADR: 96.1
- Swing: +9.10%
Falcons crash into the 0–1 bracket, while B8 soar into the world’s top 10.
FURIA vs Natus Vincere — 13:2 (Nuke)
Total collapse for NAVI: FURIA give their opponents no chance. This was one of the most one-sided maps of the entire Major. FURIA’s 12:0 first half left NAVI with no room to breathe — absolute dominance in duels, perfect ramp control, and flawless mid-round decisions.
NAVI managed to claim two consolation rounds after the switch, but the match was functionally decided long before that. The heroes were molodoy and KSCERATO, who delivered multi-kill rounds one after another.
Player of the Match — Daniil “molodoy” Golubenko
- Rating 3.0: 1.81
- K–D: 19–6
- ADR: 108.4
- Swing: +10.19%
FURIA reinforce their position as the world’s #1 team, while NAVI suffer a painful fall in the VRS standings.
VRS updates after the second Stage 3 match block
- FaZe: +47 pt → #12 (↑3)
- B8: +46 pt → #10 (↑3)
- paiN: +50 pt → #13 (↑5)
- FURIA: +2 pt → #1
- Falcons: –21 pt → #2
- Vitality: –22 pt → #3
- Natus Vincere: –9 pt → #7
- 3DMAX: –10 pt → #17
Updated brackets after all first-round Stage 3 matches
1–0 bracket:
- MOUZ
- Imperial
- G2
- Spirit
- FaZe
- B8
- FURIA
- paiN
0–1 bracket:
- PARIVISION
- The MongolZ
- Passion UA
- Liquid
- Vitality
- Falcons
- Natus Vincere
- 3DMAX
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Stage 3 enters an even more intense phase
Teams sitting at 1–0 now have the chance to take a decisive step toward the Champions Stage, while those in 0–1 risk falling dangerously close to elimination — especially Vitality, NAVI, and Falcons, who did not expect to be fighting for survival this early. The second round will reveal the true balance of power and determine who is on a legendary path and who must fight for every round just to stay alive at the Major.
