HooXi After Astralis Crash Out of Budapest Major 2025: “It’s Hard to Stay in Good Form With Everything Going On”

Astralis have been eliminated from the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025, finishing Stage 2 with a 2–3 record after a decisive 0–2 loss to Team Liquid. The defeat ends the Danish roster’s run at the year’s biggest CS2 Major, featuring 32 teams and a $1.25M prize pool.

Astralis Lose to Liquid in Decider Match

Liquid overpowered Astralis on both maps—13–7 on Nuke and 13–9 on Mirage—with Roland “ultimate” Tomkowiak leading the way. Astralis never found momentum on their own map pick, falling behind early and failing to recover.

HooXi: Team Affected by Off-Server Turmoil

Following the elimination, in-game leader Rasmus “HooXi” Nielsen admitted the team struggled under external pressure:

“It’s difficult to be in good form with everything that’s going on.”

The comment comes amid reports from Ekstra Bladet that Astralis failed to pay November salaries on time. CEO Jonas Gundersen confirmed delays related to the organization’s recent ownership change and promised full payment with a 10% compensation added.

The salary issue surfaced just hours before Astralis’ elimination match, raising concerns about internal stability.

Device Responds: “Sometimes You Have to Break to Become Stronger”

Astralis star Nicolai “device” Reedtz shared his frustration on social media, calling himself “crushed” after the exit. He acknowledged criticism of his performance—ending Stage 2 with a 0.93 rating—and added:

“Sometimes you have to break to become stronger.”

Related Budapest Major News

• 3DMAX defeated NiP later the same night to secure the final Stage 3 slot.

• The Major’s early rounds faced broadcast issues, prompting apologies from StarLadder.

• The event runs 24 November – 14 December 2025 in Budapest.

What’s Next for Astralis?

With their Major run over and financial turbulence ongoing, Astralis face a critical offseason. HooXi says he isn’t sure what comes next, noting the team had placed heavy focus on performing at Budapest.

Despite the chaotic backdrop, both HooXi and device say they’re committed to rebuilding ahead of 2026.