It all comes to this: after three Swiss stages, the eight best CS2 teams clash in the final brackets. Only one can lift the trophy after the grand final.
The dominance of a few top teams was clearly notable during the initial tournament phases. In the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 Playoffs, six participants come from the latest Stage 3. Only two are from early stages, and they are not your typical underdogs at all.
FaZe made it through the entire Major, with ups and downs on the way. NAVI dominated Stage 2 and survived Stage 3. With all the CS2 esports elite gathering at the biggest stage of the season, every Playoffs match in Budapest is a remarkable show.
While still having a few big favorites, we can expect interesting surprises. The matchups support this chance, but the brackets look like a path to the grand final for the two top contenders.
Everything from the Playoffs at the CS2 Major 2025 in Budapest is here.
Stream: Watch the CS2 Budapest Major Playoffs
The official YouTube channel of StarLadder broadcasts all the Playoffs matches from the Major in Budapest. You can watch them here, too, as the stream is embedded above.
Schedule of matches
The Budapest Major Playoffs happen from Dec. 11 to Dec. 14. The detailed schedule is in the table below.
Estimated start time | Stage | Matches |
|---|---|---|
| Dec. 11, 5 p.m. CET / 11 a.m. ET | Quarterfinal | Spirit 2:0 Falcons 13:4 on Nuke 16:12 on Dust II |
| Dec. 11, 8 p.m. CET / 2 p.m. ET | Quarterfinal | The MongolZ 0:2 Vitality 5:13 on Mirage 4:13 on Dust II |
| Dec. 12, 5 p.m. CET / 11 a.m. ET | Quarterfinal | MOUZ vs FaZe |
| Dec. 12, 8 p.m. CET / 2 p.m. ET | Quarterfinal | NAVI vs FURIA |
| Dec. 13, 5 p.m. CET / 11 a.m. ET | Semifinal | TBD vs TBD |
| Dec. 13, 8 p.m. CET / 2 p.m. ET | Semifinal | TBD vs TBD |
| Dec. 14, 6 p.m. CET / 12 p.m. ET | Grand Final | TBD vs TBD |
Playoffs results at the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025
Most Counter-Strike 2 esports matches of this phase are under the best-of-three (Bo3) format. However, we are lucky to have a proper Bo5 grand final.
This section highlights the results from the Budapest Major Playoffs: maps and scores.
Final standings
Placement | Teams | Prize money |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | TBD | $500,000 |
| 2nd | TBD | $170,000 |
| 3rd–4th | TBD TBD | $80,000 |
| 5th–8th | TBD TBD The MongolZ Team Falcons | $45,000 |
Playoff brackets
Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Grand final |
|---|---|---|
| Spirit 2:0 Falcons 13:4 on Nuke 16:12 on Dust II | Spirit vs Vitality | TBD vs TBD |
| The MongolZ 0:2 Vitality 5:13 on Mirage 4:13 on Dust II | TBD vs TBD | |
| MOUZ vs FaZe | ||
| NAVI vs FURIA |
Matchups for the top favorites: Preview
Team Vitality and FURIA are arguably the biggest contenders for the ultimate trophy in Budapest. Do your Pick'Ems agree? These teams dropped into parallel brackets, and potentially, FURIA and Vitality could clash in the grand final.
FURIA in the brackets
FURIA players are on the rise at the moment, with a few tournament wins and a dominant performance in Stage 3. They are often named the top favorites for the Major win.
Facing NAVI is a familiar task for FURIA, as they destroyed these opponents in Stage 3 Round 1.
With all the struggles of FaZe in Stages 1 and 3, MOUZ should win their quarterfinal. In the potential semifinals MOUZ vs FURIA, the outcome is more unpredictable. Still, the teams' current form hints at a favorable matchup for FURIA.
Vitality in the brackets
Vitality are on a shaky run in the second half of 2025. They won only the ESL Pro League Season 22 after the Austin Major.
Vitality still have a much better season than The MongolZ, so the quarterfinal should not be too difficult for them. It's a rerun of the grand final in Austin.
Spirit vs Falcons is anyone's game. Team Falcons has been reaching higher placements recently, like the grand final at the BLAST Rivals in Hong Kong.
As for facing Vitality, Falcons won over them at CS2 EWC 2025, in the 3rd place match, but lost in the grand finals of EPL Season 22. Team Spirit lost to Vitality at the BLAST Rivals Fall 2025.
The recent head-to-head record for Team Vitality and FURIA features a couple of important matches.
- Vitality eliminated FURIA in the EPL S22 Playoffs.
- FURIA won over Vitality in the grand final at IEM Chengdu 2025 and in the semifinal at BLAST Rivals Fall 2025.
The esports life of Counter-Strike 2 takes a short break after the Budapest Major. The top-tier competition returns in January: BLAST Bounty Winter is the first event in the CS2 2026 schedule.
Interesting player transfers may shake the scene ahead of the new season!
