Budapest Major Stage 2 Draw Revealed: Astralis vs NiP, FaZe Faces Passion UA, M80 & FlyQuest Open With Tough Matchups

Budapest Major Stage 2 Draw Revealed: Astralis vs NiP, FaZe Faces Passion UA, M80 & FlyQuest Open With Tough Matchups

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Introduction

The opening matchups for StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 Stage 2 have been confirmed. With Stage 1 concluded, eight teams from that phase advance and join another eight squads already seeded, setting up 16 BO1s slated for the first day of Stage 2 — November 29. 

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Key Matchups & Highlights

• Astralis vs Ninjas in Pyjamas (NiP) — one of the storylines fans are watching closely. The clash reunites Rasmus “sjuush” Beck with his former Astralis teammates, while Nicolai “device” Reedtz will face off against his old club — adding emotional weight to a high-stakes BO1.

• M80 & FlyQuest — both entering Stage 2 with perfect 3-0 records from Stage 1. However, neither got an easy opener: M80 draws Aurora, and FlyQuest will go up against Natus Vincere (NAVI), making for challenging matches right out of the gate.

• FaZe Clan vs Passion UA — FaZe are in a precarious spot as they try to bounce back against Passion UA, a potentially dangerous opponent following Stage 1.

• Brazilian showdown: MIBR vs Imperial — a derby that adds regional flavor to the opening day; both sides will be fighting hard to make a statement early in Stage 2.

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Context: Format & Stakes

• The 2025 Budapest Major features 32 teams in total.

• Stage 2 is the second Swiss-system group stage. The eight teams advancing from Stage 1 join eight pre-seeded teams based on VRS invites.

• From here, teams will battle through the Swiss format to secure a spot in Stage 3, leading eventually into playoffs.

Given that all opening matches are BO1s — known for high variance — even some of the favourites might risk an early stumble. As noted, the 3-0 Stage 1 teams were not rewarded with easy draws, making “safe passage” far from guaranteed. 

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What This Draw Means

• The draw sets up several high-drama matchups right from the start, with potential storylines (ex-teammates vs each other, regional derbies, underdogs vs established squads).

• Teams coming out of Stage 1 (especially M80 and FlyQuest) don’t get a break — facing tough opponents makes their road forward much harder, but also offers a chance to prove their worth by upsetting bigger names.

• For established favourites like FaZe or Astralis, the pressure is immediate: a single loss can put them on the back foot in a volatile BO1 Swiss format.

• Fans are guaranteed a day full of high-stakes action — 16 matches — making Budapest Major Stage 2 one of the most intense opening days of any CS2 Major so far.