“HLTV Confirmed: Who is winning the stacked Major playoff?” 

“HLTV Confirmed: Who is winning the stacked Major playoff?” 

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The upcoming playoffs of the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 are shaping up to be one of the most intensely competitive and consequential in the history of Counter­Strike. In today’s episode of the HLTV Confirmed show — hosted by Milan “Striker” Švejda, Chad “SPUNJ” Burchill and Zvonimir “Professeur” Burazin — the trio took a deep dive into the bracket, the teams, the storylines and the predictions. 

A “stacked” bracket

What makes this Major playoff field stand out? For one, the bracket is practically overflowing with elite teams. As noted in the companion article “Matchups set for Budapest Major playoffs,” seven of the eight teams that made the playoffs are currently ranked inside the world’s top 10, according to HLTV’s rankings.  The format and selection of teams also enhance the significance of this event: the Major has returned to Europe (Budapest, Hungary) after previous editions in the U.S. and China, and the playoff stage will be held in a large venue before a live crowd at the MVM Dome. 

One Reddit analysis (while user-driven) calculated that this Major has the lowest average team ranking of any Major playoff in history (around 5.00), meaning the field is arguably the strongest ever assembled. 

Key storylines & team trajectories

During the HLTV Confirmed episode, the hosts touched on several non-Major news items (transfers, pet peeves, sideline scoops), but the bulk of the discussion naturally centred on the playoffs.

Rise of the challengers

For instance, it was pointed out how Falcons — a relatively newer organization in the scene — clinched the final playoff spot after a dramatic 2-1 reverse-sweep against G2 Esports (G2) in the deciding Stage 3 series. The standout performance of Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov helped secure that berth. Meanwhile, veteran teams like FaZe Clan kept their records alive: FaZe qualified for their fifth consecutive Major playoffs by defeating the up-and-coming Passion UA 2-0. 

Upsets & disappointments

On the flip side, G2’s elimination remains a talking point. In their post‐match comments, huNter- (Nemanja Kovač) admitted the team “didn’t show up” against FURIA and The MongolZ — two of the teams they lost to during elimination rounds. 

Format context

The tournament format adds more stakes and nuance. The Major consists of three Swiss stages before the single-elimination playoffs, meaning teams must navigate multiple phases of competition before even reaching the bracket.  The playoff stage schedule is set:

• December 11: Vitality vs The MongolZ, Spirit vs Falcons

• December 12: MOUZ vs FaZe, FURIA vs Natus Vincere

Predictions & thoughts from HLTV Confirmed

During the show, the hosts discussed likely winners, dark horses, and potential pitfalls. They emphasised that because the bracket is so competitive, half-steps won’t cut it – even a microscopic error can cost a team everything in a best-of-three. Striker noted that mental fortitude will be as critical as tactical preparation. (This echoed comments by karrigan of FaZe: “I want the mental fortitude … to be the DNA; if you have it, people start to be scared of you.”) 

SPUNJ brought up the narrative of freshness vs experience: newer coaching staffs, roster changes, and emergent players may upset established hierarchies. Professeur touched on the idea that this could be the last chance for certain veteran squads to reclaim Major-glory before the next cycle of change.

Why this Major might be special

Several factors combine to make this Major playoff particularly noteworthy:

• Elite density: With many of the world’s best teams making it to the final eight, the margin for error is smaller than ever.

• Deep tournament format: The Swiss+playoff structure means teams have been battle-tested before hitting the bracket, so we are likely seeing top form.

• High stage atmosphere: The playoffs will take place in the MVM Dome in Budapest, with live audience, bringing additional pressure and energy.

• Narrative arcs: From underdogs like Falcons, new coaching regimes, veterans trying to reclaim dominance, to teams that must hit now or risk slipping — the stories are rich.

Looking ahead

As the playoff weekend approaches, several things to watch for:

• How will teams adapt to meta developments and map veto strategies under pressure?

• Will the underdog squads (e.g., Falcons) carry momentum, or will established elite teams reassert dominance?

• Could we witness an upset run, given how close the competition appears on paper?

• Which players will step up on the big stage and claim hero status, and who will crumble under expectation?

In conclusion, it’s fair to say that the StarLadder Budapest Major playoff is not just another event. It might represent one of the most competitive playoff brackets ever assembled in CS2. As the HLTV Confirmed panel suggested, the winner will deserve the title — and may be harder to predict than in years past.