Look Sports Media – As the dust settles from a chaotic Stage 1, all eyes turn to Stage 2 of the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025. This phase welcomes heavy hitters Astralis, Na’Vi, Liquid, and Aurora, while FaZe Clan, narrowly escaping elimination, seek redemption.
Stage 2 Showdowns: Initial Battles
(Table with opening matches as in original article)
Counter-Strike Giants Enter the Fray: Form Check
Aurora:
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The current VRS #5, Aurora, arrives fresh off a PGL Masters Bucharest victory. While the win was anticipated given their ranking, it marked a crucial milestone in their quest for more LAN titles. However, cracks appeared during the Bucharest run, barely surviving against Astralis with stand-ins and nearly squandering a 2-0 lead against Legacy in the grand final. According to Janko "YNk" Paunović, a loss to Legacy would have likely triggered roster changes. Despite the shaky performance, Aurora secured the title.
Prediction: Strong Contender to Advance
Natus Vincere:
Na’Vi faces an uncertain future. The team feels stagnant, with potential roster changes looming after the Major. This sentiment echoes pre-Copenhagen Major 2024, where they defied expectations. While fans hope for another miracle orchestrated by coach Andrii "B1ad3" Horodenskyi, the team’s disjointed performance suggests a less optimistic outcome. After IEM Chengdu losses to Astralis and Heroic, this Major will be a true test. Despite their struggles against Astralis, Na’Vi rarely loses to weaker teams. Progression is likely, but replicating Copenhagen’s success or even reaching playoffs seems improbable.
Prediction: Likely to Advance
Liquid:
Two months after EliGE’s return, Liquid’s progress remains unclear. A third-place finish at the CS Asia Championships was expected, and their Bucharest run ended disappointingly against SAW. The Major is a crucial test for Liquid, determining if coach Viktor "flashie" Tamás Bea can instill a consistent playstyle, if EliGE can carry the team, and if NertZ is a valuable asset. While capable of advancing, Liquid’s inconsistency and map pool weaknesses are concerning. Their performance in Budapest will provide definitive answers about their progress.
Prediction: Likely to Advance
Astralis:
"Astralis just seems kind of broken at the moment," YNk observed, highlighting the team’s struggles with Magisk standing in for stavn. The retirement of gla1ve casts a shadow over the current roster, highlighting their decline from dominance. Lacking firepower, unbalanced structure, and a lack of joy plague the team. Despite recent wins against Legacy, 3DMAX, Na’Vi, The MongolZ, and MIBR, their advancement hinges on motivation.
Prediction: Strong Chance of Advancing
3DMAX:
Consistently ranked just outside the top 10, 3DMAX’s recent performances at PGL Masters Bucharest and IEM Chengdu were disappointing after multiple trips to China. A Grand Final loss at the CS Asia Championships resulted in fatigue without silverware. While capable of advancing under normal circumstances, their recovery from travel and competition is questionable.
Prediction: Strong Chance of Advancing
Tyloo:
Tyloo’s season began promisingly with a win at Fissure Playground 1, but the result seems anomalous in retrospect. Since then, positive results have been scarce. Finishing poorly in subsequent events, Tyloo lacks excitement beyond JamYoung’s individual skill. Likely to be eliminated in Stage 2, mirroring their Austin experience.
Prediction: Unlikely to Advance
Passion UA:
One of the weakest teams entering Stage 2, Passion UA has shown few positive signs. Benefiting from messioso’s GMing to target Major qualification LANs, they achieved moderate success in smaller events. However, disappointing results in stronger competitions and an uninspiring team composition suggest an early exit.
Prediction: Unlikely to Advance
MIBR:
MIBR has become uninteresting, plagued by their inability to secure top Brazilian talent. Despite signing kl1m and Qikert, their international standing remains unchanged, with limited success in recent events. Their opening match against regional rivals Imperial offers a chance for a win, leveraging their dominance in the local scene.
Prediction: Unlikely to Advance
Can Stage 1 Teams Maintain Momentum?
FlyQuest:
FlyQuest breezed through Stage 1, building on their PGL Masters Bucharest form. With INS’s IGLing and regali’s AWPing prowess, they have a strong chance of continuing their success against Stage 2 opponents.
Prediction: Strong Chance of Advancing
M80:
M80 defeated B8 and Parivision, both of whom advanced, signaling their potential. However, they need to maintain confidence under pressure. Facing Aurora in Stage 2 will be a significant challenge.
Prediction: Strong Chance of Advancing
Ninjas in Pyjamas:
NiP’s shaky form entering the Major was reinforced by a loss to NRG. While they recovered, their firepower is questionable, especially with r1nkle struggling. Their path in Stage 2 seems difficult, requiring them to outsmart opponents rather than outshoot them.
Prediction: Unlikely to Advance
Fnatic:
Fnatic’s Stage 1 was inconsistent, highlighted by their advancement game. Map pool issues and inconsistency plague the team after adding jackasmo. Stage 2 seems to be their current limit.
Prediction: Unlikely to Advance
B8:
B8 is inconsistent but promising, with wins against strong teams like Legacy and 3DMAX. Their recent IGL change has improved their flow state. If they can replicate their best work, they can cause upsets in Stage 2, but consistency is key.
Prediction: Unlikely to Advance
FaZe:
FaZe barely survived Stage 1, with karrigan’s relief evident after their narrow escape against Fluxo. Their Counter-Strike has been sloppy and unstructured. They must improve to advance to Stage 3. Despite losses to NiP and NRG, their player quality should allow them to advance if they fix glaring errors.
Prediction: Likely to Advance
Imperial:
Imperial reached Stage 2 due to the draw, facing weaker opposition. While try is performing well, their matches lacked strong competition. There seems to be no path to Stage 3 for Imperial.
Prediction: Extremely Unlikely to Advance
Parivision:
Parivision’s victory over Legacy, following a similar slugfest against GamerLegion, showcased Jame’s ability to grind out results. Their Bo3 wins are impressive, making them outside contenders in Stage 2. However, their near eliminations suggest Stage 2 is their limit, but underestimating Jame’s team would be a mistake.
Prediction: Unlikely to Advance
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