B8 stun Legacy to book StarLadder Budapest Major Stage 2 spot

B8 stun Legacy to book StarLadder Budapest Major Stage 2 spot

The youngest squad at the StarLadder Budapest Major has just punched its ticket to Stage 2.
B8 swept Brazilian hopefuls Legacy 2–0 (16–12 on Dust2, 13–5 on Mirage) in their 2–1 Swiss decider on November 26, finishing Stage 1 with a confident 3–1 record and advancing to the next phase of the Major.

Match overview: kensizor leads the way

The best-of-three unfolded on Dust2 and Mirage after Ancient was left unused in the veto.

Dust2 (Legacy’s pick) – 16–12 B8

Legacy opened strong on the T side, building an 8–4 half-time lead. After the switch, however, B8 came alive.
Artem “kensizor” Kapran spearheaded the comeback, and Andrii “npl” Kukharskyi delivered a crucial triple kill in the final round of regulation to force overtime.
In OT, Legacy failed to secure a single round. A blind double-entry from Alexey “alex666” Yarmoshchuk closed the map and gave B8 the 1–0 series lead.

Mirage (B8’s pick) – 13–5 B8

B8’s T-side game plan looked polished and explosive. kensizor dominated with 126.9 ADR, powering a 9–3 half.
Legacy briefly showed life by winning the second pistol, but a momentum-shifting Desert Eagle triple kill from Dmytro “esenthial” Tsvir slammed the door shut.
B8 closed out Mirage 13–5 without resistance, completing the 2–0 sweep.

Across the full series, kensizor posted a 1.50 rating, with strong support from npl and Daniil “headtr1ck” Valitov.

B8’s Swiss run: from 0–1 to 3–1

B8’s Stage 1 campaign began shakily but quickly gained momentum:

Round 1: Lost to M80 (11–13)

Round 2: Beat The Huns (13–11 on Ancient)

Round 3: Beat PARIVISION (13–11)

Round 4: Beat Legacy 2–0 in the decisive qualification match

Their 3–1 record places them among the first teams to secure Major Stage 2, joining Ninjas in Pyjamas, who also advanced with a 3–1 finish after defeating Fluxo.

The youngest team in Budapest — already at back-to-back Majors

Pre-event data confirmed B8 as the youngest roster at the Major, with an average age of 21.1 years.
The same overview highlighted key talking points:

Inexperience: B8 entered Budapest as one of the least-experienced lineups in Stage 1.

AWP struggles: headtr1ck’s recent form, statistically among the lowest of attending AWPers, made their winning run even more surprising.

Historic milestone: This is B8’s second consecutive Major — a huge achievement for an organization still carving out its identity.

For such a young core to rebound from an 0–1 start and secure a Stage 2 berth is a powerful statement.

alex666’s rise as IGL

One of B8’s defining storylines is Alexey “alex666” Yarmoshchuk’s evolution as an in-game leader.
After PGL Masters Bucharest 2025, he revealed in an interview that coach Ivan “maddened” Iordanidi encouraged him to take on the role due to his calmness under pressure.

“The coach asked if I wanted to be IGL — there was no other option, so I said I could try.”

He also detailed how mid-round duties are split: he handles the bulk of the calls, while npl contributes heavily, especially on CT sides.
The composure B8 showed against Legacy — particularly in Dust2 overtime and their disciplined T sides on Mirage — reflects that growing leadership structure.

Legacy’s situation: one life left

While B8 celebrate, Legacy must now fight for survival.
The Brazilians drop to the 2–2 pool, forcing them into a final elimination match on the last day of Stage 1.

Legacy’s path so far:

Lost to FlyQuest (10–13)

Beat Rare Atom (13–6)

Beat RED Canids (to reach 2–1)

Lost 0–2 to B8

Before the event, Legacy’s AWPer Guilherme “saadzin” Pacheco reflected on his development:

“When you join a team and you are young, you just think about stats.”

Now, Legacy must focus less on numbers and more on survival as they face their final chance to reach Stage 2.

Broader tournament context

A few additional storylines frame B8’s success:

NiP finding form: Ninjas in Pyjamas mirrored B8’s 3–1 run. After their deciding win, Aurélien “ewjerkz” Drapier explained:

“We tried to slow down our game; it’s better because we have more time to think.”

Event turbulence: The Budapest Major’s opening days were marked by production issues — delays and stream problems — prompting an official apology from the organizers.

Despite the chaos, Stage 1 has showcased remarkable resilience from underdogs and inconsistent performances from favorites.

Why B8’s run matters

B8’s qualification stands out due to:

Their profile: Youngest team at the event, a statistically struggling AWPer, and a relatively new IGL.

Their path: Recovering from an 0–1 start to claim three straight victories.

Their individuals:

• • kensizor delivering star-level performances

  • alex666 proving his leadership credentials

  • npl and headtr1ck providing crucial consistency

For B8, this isn’t just a strong tournament run — it’s validation that their developmental approach, young core, and evolving leadership can translate into success on the biggest stage. This second consecutive Major appearance marks a milestone moment in the organization’s growth.