Stage 3 of the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 once again confirmed that donk is not just a star — he is a phenomenon who shapes the flow of every match. His individual performance in the third stage was so convincing that the question of the best player never even arose. A 1.73 rating across five maps, +51 K-D, and consistency in every series made him Spirit’s undisputed leader and the key reason behind the team’s playoff qualification.
Train vs Liquid — 13:8: an explosive start
In the match against Liquid, donk immediately set the pace, posting a 2.38 rating — the highest single-map individual score of the entire stage among players in the top 1–1 pool. He dominated duels with impunity, created space for his teammates, and constantly broke Liquid’s economy with early-entry pressure. Liquid simply had no answer.
- donk — 2.38
- sh1ro — 1.52
- tN1R — 0.99
This map instantly showed the level of form Spirit brought into the decisive phase.
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Dust2 vs FaZe — 13:5: superstars fall, the donk show continues
FaZe came in motivated but ran straight into a wall. Dust2 turned into a one-sided Spirit showcase, once again powered by their brightest talent.
donk closed the map with a 1.86 rating, once again topping the server despite individual attempts from Twistzz and broky to stabilize the game. Every crucial round — from opening duels to late-round trades — went through him.
- donk — 1.86
- chopper — 1.74
- sh1ro — 1.31
FaZe didn’t even reach six rounds — that’s how suffocating Spirit’s pressure was.
Series vs MOUZ — 2:1: as the opposition level rises, donk remains untouchable
MOUZ — arguably the most stable roster of the season — could have posed a real threat. But across three maps it was once again donk who made the difference, leading Spirit with the highest average rating of the series.
A 1.51 rating on Overpass, stability on Mirage and Train, confident entries and clutch impact — in all key moments, he was the one determining the outcome of rounds. Spirit closed out the series 2–1, securing their playoff spot, and donk added another heavyweight performance to his personal highlight reel.
- donk — 1.51
- sh1ro — 1.21
- tN1R — 1.10
His performance against MOUZ highlighted the most important thing — even when the match is tight, donk remains Spirit’s most effective and decisive resource.
Stage 3 Final Stats
Across the five maps played in Stage 3, donk delivered:
- Rating: 1.73
- K-D: +51
- K/D: 1.85
- Consistency across all three matches
- Two of the highest map ratings against Tier-1 opponents
This wasn’t just strong individual form — it was domination that defined the landscape of Stage 3.
Why donk became the Best Player of Stage 3
- He won all Spirit’s matches while being their top performer in each one.
- His effectiveness in clutches and opening duels changed the outcome of dozens of rounds.
- No other player in Stage 3 came close to his combined rating or K-D differential.
- Against FaZe, Liquid, and MOUZ he didn’t just play well — he dismantled his opponents.
donk stopped being a “young prodigy” long ago. At Stage 3 of the Budapest Major, he became the central figure of the entire phase — and if he keeps this form in the playoffs, Spirit may aim for something far greater than just a top-eight finish.
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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.
