Liquid’s “off-day” at StarLadder Budapest Major 2025: Roland "ultimate" Tomkowiak reflects on 0-2 start — but sees hope ahead

Liquid’s “off-day” at StarLadder Budapest Major 2025: Roland "ultimate" Tomkowiak reflects on 0-2 start — but sees hope ahead

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Detailed & Informative Rewritten Report

At the start of Stage 2 of the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025, Team Liquid found themselves 0-2 — a rough foothold for a team with high expectations. 

• In the opening match (Swiss Round 1), Liquid fell 7:13 to B8 Esports on Mirage.

• The trouble continued in Round 2, as they lost 3:13 to PARIVISION on Dust2, wrapping up their day with a 0-2 record.

After the games, ultimate didn’t shy away from criticizing the performance. He told HLTV that for everyone in the team it was “an off day.” 

He emphasized that best-of-ones (BO1s) — which Stage 2 heavily relies on — leave very little margin for error: a missed pistol round or a minor misstep can cost the map. 

Looking ahead, ultimate said that while yesterday’s losses hurt, they managed to “get our confidence back” with their win over MIBR. With best-of-threes (BO3s) on the horizon, he believes Liquid has a real shot to recover and show their true potential. 

He added that pressure doesn’t help: “If I would be too pressured, then I cannot perform; if I just don’t care, I play well.” 

Why this 0-2 start isn’t necessarily a death sentence

• The format of the Major — three Swiss-system stages leading to playoffs — gives teams a chance to recover after early losses. Stage 2 matches are BO1 until elimination/progression rounds, where BO3s begin.

• That structural nuance reduces the impact of a bad day: a single off performance doesn’t automatically mean elimination if the team can regroup and perform under BO3 conditions. As ultimate himself suggests — small mistakes cost BO1s far more.

• Liquid already showed resilience by beating MIBR once. If they can replicate that under the more stable BO3 format, they still have realistic paths through Stage 2 and possibly beyond.

Bottom line: Not over — just a rough start

While Liquid’s 0-2 start is far from ideal, ultimate’s comments and the structure of the Major itself leave the door open for a comeback. The team may have faltered under BO1 pressure — but with BO3s coming up, there’s a clear opportunity to reset, regain composure, and prove they belong among the contenders.