Fnatic Eliminated From Budapest Major After 0–2 Collapse vs Passion UA

Fnatic have been knocked out of the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 after a disappointing 0–2 loss to Passion UA in the 1–2 elimination pool. The Europeans fell 11–13 on Overpass and 7–13 on Inferno, ending their run in Stage 2 with a 1–3 record, while Passion UA advance to the final qualification round.

Passion UA Outplay Fnatic Across Both Maps

Passion UA started strong on Overpass with a 7–1 T-side lead, powered by hallzerk’s impactful AWPing and JT’s mid-round calling. Fnatic closed the gap but couldn’t convert late-round opportunities, losing 11–13.

Inferno, fnatic’s own pick, turned into a breakdown. Their T-side produced just one round, with blameF ending the half on 0 kills, and despite a minor CT-side burst, Passion UA closed the map 13–7.

Star Performers: Grim and hallzerk Lead the Charge

• Grim delivered the series’ best performance with 43 kills and a 1.30 HLTV rating.

• hallzerk followed closely with a 1.34 rating, repeatedly resetting fnatic’s economy.

• JT added a strong 1.21 rating while outcalling fnatic on both maps.

For fnatic, only fEAR and KRIMZ offered stability. blameF ended the match with a 0.66 rating, one of his weakest Major showings.

This Result Fits the Recent Head-to-Head Trend

The upset is less shocking in context: Passion UA now lead the 2025 head-to-head vs fnatic, having already beaten them at events like Glitched Masters and the Rainbet Cup. This Major elimination is their most significant victory to date.

Organizational Context: Passion UA’s Rebuilt “Complexity Core”

The Ukrainian organization signed the former Complexity core in 2025 — JT, Grim, hallzerk, nicx — with Kvem completing the roster. Coach T.c now oversees a lineup consistently ranked in the #20–#30 range globally but trending upward.

Both JT and hallzerk recently emphasized that mentality and structure are key to their growth, and that showed in their composed performance against fnatic.

Fnatic’s Major Ends Early – What’s Next?

Fnatic’s run ends far earlier than expected. The team posted that they were “devastated not to make it to Stage 3” and thanked fans for their support. With RMR points and future invites on the line, this early exit raises questions about the stability and ceiling of their new lineup.

Passion UA, now 2–2, will fight for a Stage 3 slot in their next decider match.