StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 reaches its climax — the tournament grand final will feature Vitality vs FaZe. This is not just the final match of a Major, but the logical conclusion of a two-week battle between the strongest teams in the world, where every round carries the price of a title, legacy, and a place in Counter-Strike history.
For Vitality, this is a chance to cement their status as the dominant force of the era. For FaZe, it is an opportunity to once again prove that in big finals, experience, a cold mind, and “LAN magic” can break any statistics.
STARLADDER BUDAPEST MAJOR 2025 — GRAND FINAL
The Major grand final takes place in Budapest and is played in a Bo5 format, where randomness is reduced to a minimum. Short bursts of form do not work here — only a team with a deep map pool, strong mental endurance, and the ability to adapt throughout the series can win.
Vitality and FaZe have already fought their way through the playoffs, leaving the most dangerous opponents behind. Now, only the final barrier remains.
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HEAD-TO-HEAD — A FINAL THAT HAS BEEN BREWING
The rivalry between Vitality and FaZe is one of the most principled on the modern scene. They have faced each other many times in playoffs and finals of major LAN events, with series often going all the way to decisive maps.
In recent months, Vitality have looked more consistent in terms of numbers and results, but FaZe are traditionally most dangerous precisely in finals. This is the team that knows how to turn series around under maximum pressure.
CURRENT FORM
- Vitality — control, stability, and a star-level peak
Vitality approach the final in near-perfect form. The team confidently made it through the playoffs, not allowing opponents to impose chaotic play. ZywOo is once again performing at the level of the best player in the world, ropz and flameZ consistently win key duels, and apEX maintains tempo and discipline even in long series. In a Bo5, this kind of structure and depth of decision-making often becomes the decisive factor.
- FaZe — final experience and mental resilience
FaZe do not look statistically perfect, but their path to the final is an example of how a team survives in the toughest moments. karrigan once again proved his ability to read long series, Twistzz and frozen consistently step up on later maps, and broky can “close out” any map at a critical moment. FaZe enter the final without the pressure of being the favorites — and that makes them even more dangerous.
MAP POOL & VETO
Statistics over the last 3 months (Vitality | FaZe):
- Dust2: 89% | 50%
- Mirage: 88% | 54%
- Inferno: 69% | 73%
- Nuke: 50% | 67%
- Train: 50% | —
- Overpass: 57% | 50%
- Ancient: — | 40%
Expected veto:
- Vitality will most likely remove Nuke — one of FaZe’s most comfortable maps, where karrigan’s structure and broky’s confident play often allow FaZe to control the pace of the series.
- FaZe are highly likely to ban Mirage — Vitality’s most consistent map, where ZywOo and ropz regularly dominate mid control and clutch situations.
Likely picks:
- Vitality: Dust2 — one of the team’s strongest maps, where ZywOo’s individual form combined with disciplined retakes provides a clear advantage.
- FaZe: Inferno — a classic FaZe pick that allows karrigan to impose slow, tactical Counter-Strike with strong Banana control and late-round executions.
Decider: Overpass or Train look like the most likely decider maps. In a Bo5 format, it is precisely on maps like these that team endurance, economic discipline, and defensive quality play a decisive role — and here the advantage is minimal, making the final as tense as possible.
KEY DUELS
- ZywOo vs Twistzz — a clash of consistency against final-stage composure
- ropz vs frozen — the battle for space control and timings
- apEX vs karrigan — a duel of leaders that could decide the entire series
In a Bo5, every adaptation and every call during a pause can change the course of the match.
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PREDICTION
FaZe have enormous experience in finals and are capable of breaking any team under arena pressure. But over the distance of a five-map series, Vitality look stronger — in form, in structure, and in the current peak of their stars.
If FaZe do not take the series in the early phase, the advantage will gradually shift to Vitality.
Predicted result: Vitality 3–1 FaZe
