FaZe scrape through against Fluxo to reach Stage 2 at Budapest Major

FaZe scrape through against Fluxo to reach Stage 2 at Budapest Major

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Hard-fought Survival: FaZe vs Fluxo

The European side FaZe avoided what could have been a catastrophic exit from StarLadder Budapest Major 2025, grinding out a 2-1 victory over Brazilian squad Fluxo in the decisive Swiss round to reach Stage 2. 

• Map 1 – Inferno (13-6): FaZe dominated despite early struggles for opening kills. Their mid-round execution and clutch plays — including a retake converted from a 3v5 with only MP9s — gave them a comfortable CT-side lead that held firm.

• Map 2 – Nuke (7-13): Fluxo struck back strongly, taking the pistol round and capitalizing on FaZe’s weak defense. They punished the CT-side early, abused FaZe’s vulnerabilities around Yard and rotations, and sealed the map with disciplined aggression — leaving FaZe stunned.

• Map 3 – Mirage (13-10): On the brink of elimination, FaZe’s T-side collapsed initially under Fluxo’s reads and rotations. The turning point was a pistol win and conversion, which reignited FaZe’s comeback. Their resilience shone through: captained by Finn "karrigan" Andersen, who delivered a clutch 3-kill FAMAS round and later closed out a 2v4 — dragging the team over the line.

Analysis: FaZe’s Wobbly Form and Fluxo’s Collapse

This win is a relief for FaZe, but far from confidence-inspiring. Their map pool looked thin on offense, opening kills were rare all series, and Mirage’s first half exposed deep T-side issues and predictability in their game-plan. 

As for Fluxo, what began as a promising start to the Major descended into collapse. After a 2-0 start in the Swiss format, they faltered at the worst time — unable to translate aggressive starts into consistent dominance when it counted most. Their economic mismanagement (frequent force-buys) on Mirage and failure to stabilize after the pistol loss exposed their inexperience under pressure. 

What’s Next for Stage 2

With the narrow win secured, FaZe will begin Stage 2 of the Budapest Major against Passion UA — a matchup they can’t afford to underestimate, given their current form. 

Meanwhile, for Fluxo, the early exit from the Major (landing at 9–11th place) is a bitter outcome after initial momentum. They’ll need to regroup and reflect on their inability to close out the BO3.