The post-Major episode of Snake & Banter featuring Thorin and Mauisnake, with James “BanKs” Banks as a guest, went far beyond a standard results recap.
Instead of highlights and surface-level takes, the show delivered a deep snapshot of the CS2 scene at the end of 2025 — its growth points, tough decisions, and structural issues that can no longer be ignored.
“A Major without days off”: the unseen side of the broadcast
BanKs set the tone early by explaining that the Budapest Major became his first Major without a single full day off. Even during breaks between stages, he handled rehearsals, recordings, voiceovers, and interviews — many of which never made it to air.
You put in a huge amount of work, hand it over, and it just disappears. That’s how the Major media machine works.
Thorin expanded on the topic by recalling an early interview with donk, recorded before his superstar rise, that also remained unreleased. For the panel, this was not a joke but a symptom: modern CS produces more content than the scene can process, and some stories simply get lost.
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NAVI and w0nderful’s breakthrough
The biggest positive takeaway was NAVI’s rise and w0nderful’s evolution. BanKs stressed that the key change was not raw firepower, but mental stability — something that had been missing before.
He looked calm. Even after lost rounds, there was no tilt and no visible frustration.
Mauisnake added a tactical angle. This time, w0nderful stopped playing as a passive AWP who merely “holds the system.” Instead, he actively shaped the pace of the game, especially on the T side.
This isn’t an AWP waiting for mistakes. This is an AWP that drives the game and creates space.
Thorin went further, arguing that NAVI almost looked like the second-strongest team at the tournament. In his view, they lost because of micro moments, not because of inferior preparation or structure.
They didn’t lose because they were weaker. They lost because someone else executed better in key moments.
The studio agreed on one conclusion: if w0nderful maintains this level mentally and mechanically, NAVI can return to title conversations in 2026, not just playoff consistency.
Team Spirit and the zweih benching
Another major positive point was Team Spirit’s decision to bench zweih quickly. Mauisnake described the move as a clear sign of ambition.
A team that plays for trophies can’t wait six months and hope things magically fix themselves.
The panel acknowledged zweih’s standout series against Falcons, where he directly influenced the result. However, Spirit refused to let one highlight outweigh months of inconsistency, especially against tier-one opponents. The return of zont1x felt logical and pragmatic. He knows the system, brings discipline, and performs better in defensive scenarios. One important detail remained central to the discussion: zweih is only 17 years old.
This isn’t about him being bad. Sometimes players just skip a step too early.
According to the panel, Spirit chose their championship trajectory and donk’s prime over short-term experimentation.
paiN Gaming: when decisions and the market break momentum
After the positives, the conversation shifted sharply to the “bad points,” with paiN at the center. Mauisnake called their recent decisions a step backward rather than a rebuild. The team lost role balance. dav1deuS drifted out of comfort, Snow failed to deliver consistent impact, and DGT gradually lost the freedom that once made him effective.
BanKs added broader context.
In Brazil, transfers aren’t just difficult. Buyouts are choking the entire market.
As a result, paiN — a recent Major semifinalist — now sit in a trap. They lack realistic upgrade options beyond risky gambles or academy projects. Thorin summarized it bluntly.
The issue isn’t one decision. The ecosystem has started eating itself.
MOUZ: comfort over character
Thorin’s “bad point” focused on MOUZ. His criticism targeted not only gameplay, but the team’s culture. According to both Thorin and BanKs, MOUZ looked mentally fragile before decisive matches even began.
Sometimes it feels like MOUZ value comfort more than winning.
Mauisnake highlighted the IGL role. Without strong mid-round wins and tempo control, even talented rosters cannot win Majors.
Preparation gets you to playoffs. Champions are made by improvisation under pressure.
Falcons and result-driven pressure
BanKs’ “ugly point” centered on Falcons — not because of gameplay, but because of organizational pressure. Players feel the weight of expectations at every major event.
When everyone talks only about the Major, players enter the server already carrying a burden.
Thorin compared the situation to elite football, but added a crucial caveat.
Strict standards are fine. The problem starts when an organization fails to protect players from that pressure.
Falcons have the resources to fix this. The real question is whether they accept that the issue lies in structure, not aim.
ZywOo, MVP, and the limits of the GOAT debate
The most sensitive topic came at the end: ZywOo and the GOAT discussion. Thorin acknowledged a great tournament and a deserved MVP, but felt the final lacked a defining GOAT moment.
A GOAT doesn’t just play well in a final. A GOAT breaks the series.
The panel referenced s1mple and donk for comparison. This was not hate, but a discussion about standards.
Trophies tell a team’s story. A GOAT is the player everyone knows will take over the game — and still can’t stop.
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After the Budapest Major: the scene enters a decision phase
This Snake & Banter episode reflected the CS2 scene after the Budapest Major.
NAVI show a path forward. Spirit confirm their championship mindset. Meanwhile, paiN, MOUZ, and Falcons face problems no single transfer can solve.
The Budapest Major is over. The conversation about where CS2 is heading has only begun.
