Two big teams drew themselves underdogs, so the wins are almost guaranteed — unless we can witness a brilliant upset. Two other CS2 esports powerhouses have an ultimate clash for one spot in the Budapest Major Playoffs.
After the chaotic ups and downs of Stage 3 at the Counter-Strike 2 Budapest Major 2025, six teams made it to the final round. It's their one last chance to qualify for the Playoffs and keep the Major dream alive.
For big teams, being here is not a good sign. The fans may still pull off their copium stories about the unfavorable early matchups and the time needed to get into the tournament form. NAVI and FaZe should still win.
For the two underdogs, this Round 5 is already a decent achievement. The final step to the Playoffs feels like an impossible task for B8 and Passion UA.
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B8 versus NAVI in Stage 3 of the CS2 Budapest Major 2025
Map bans | Map 1 | Map 2 | Map 3 | Match score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nuke, B8 Overpass, NAVI Inferno, NAVI Dust II, B8 | Ancient, B8 pick | Train, NAVI pick | Mirage, decider | B8 0:2 NAVI |
| B8 4:13 NAVI | B8 14:16 NAVI | - |
For Natus Vincere, this advancement match is a blessing. Something crazy should happen for B8 to win here.
- The miracle did not happen. NAVI won and advanced to the Major's Playoffs. Still, B8 made it extremely close on Map 2.
Rerun of Stage 2 at the CS2 Budapest Major
In fact, B8 already lost to NAVI — in Round 3 of the Budapest Major's Stage 2. The situation back then was different. NAVI ran through those Swiss System brackets with a 3:0 score. B8 had two more chances to advance, and they did it in the next match.
In Stage 3, NAVI got the two biggest Major favorites. They lost to FURIA with a disastrous 2:13. NAVI players were pretty competitive against Team Vitality, but still missed that Playoffs advancement chance.
B8 already defeated one of the favorites: Team Falcons in Round 1. They drew MOUZ and Vitality throughout Stage 3, which turned out to be losses, sure. To reach Round 5, B8 defeated and eliminated paiN Gaming.
FaZe versus Passion UA
Map bans | Map 1 | Map 2 | Map 3 | Match score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ancient, PUA Train, FaZe Inferno, FaZe Nuke, PUA | Overpass, PUA pick | Mirage, FaZe pick | Dust II, decider | FaZe 2:0 PUA |
| FaZe 13:11 PUA | FaZe 13:11 PUA | - |
CS2 FaZe Clan should return to their Stage 1 disorientation tracks to lose to Passion UA. The opponents have had difficulties against big teams in Stage 3.
- FaZe did what was expected: despite the rollercoaster of early results in the Budapest Major, they joined NAVI and other top teams in the Playoffs. Passion UA fought well, and they made the score 13:11 on both maps. Still, their Cinderella story ends here.
Shaky favorites and shaky underdogs
Stage 1 was a disaster for FaZe, even if they qualified. In Stage 2, the team marched to a 3:0 advancement.
Now, FaZe players are as shaky as their entire run at the Budapest Major. They defeated Vitality in Round 1 but then lost to Spirit and The MongolZ. At least smaller teams, such as 3DMAX in Round 4, don't cause trouble for FaZe.
Passion UA is battling on the verge of elimination throughout the entire Budapest Major. They made it to Stage 3 from the final advancement match, but their opponents were M80 back then.
To be here, Passion UA won over Team Liquid and Imperial. Their losses are to G2 and Falcons.
G2 Esports versus Team Falcons
Map bans | Map 1 | Map 2 | Map 3 | Match score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overpass, Falcons Nuje, G2 Mirage, G2 Train, Falcons | Ancient, Falcons pick | Inferno, G2 pick | Dust II, decider | G2 0:0 Falcons |
| G2 0:0 Falcons | G2 0:0 Falcons | G2 0:0 Falcons |
This CS2 esports match is the gem of Stage 3 Round 5 at the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025. The result is truly unpredictable.
The last big clash at the Budapest Major's Swiss Stage
G2 Esports went 2:0 in the Swiss brackets after their wins over Passion UA and paiN Gaming. Then, they were hit by FURIA and The MongolZ — and now, it's this battle for tournament life.
Team Falcons can't be proud of losing to B8. That happened before, at the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025, and Falcons got eliminated in Stage 2 back then.
Their wins are over Passion UA and Imperial. These are hardly an achievement, considering the level gap. Falcons got another loss in Stage 3 of the CS2 Budapest Major — to MOUZ in the advancement match of Round 4.
The CS2 esports StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 takes a short break after these matches. The competition returned with even higher excitement: the Playoffs are from Dec. 11 to Dec. 14.
