PARIVISION Players Dominate Stage 1 Picks in StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 Fantasy

PARIVISION Players Dominate Stage 1 Picks in StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 Fantasy

PARIVISION have emerged as the most popular choice among Fantasy managers for Stage 1 of the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025. Despite entering the event as only the 10th-ranked team in HLTV’s power rankings, their roster appears in the majority of submitted lineups. Across 10,171 fantasy teams, PARIVISION players were selected 8,229 times, with star AWPer and captain Dzhami “Jame” Ali leading the entire field. Priced at $200,000, Jame is the single most-picked player of the stage with 3,151 selections.

FaZe follow as the second-most popular team in Fantasy. While they are widely considered a top favorite to advance, their players come with a premium cost, occupying four “gold” card slots. Combined with recent inconsistency in form, Fantasy managers face a real debate over their value.

Stage 1 Format and Key Details

Stage 1 features 16 teams competing in a Swiss format. All non-elimination matches are played as best-of-one, while both elimination and advancement matches switch to best-of-three. The top eight teams move on to Stage 2, where they will join eight pre-seeded squads. This year’s Budapest Major is also the first to fully implement Valve Regional Standings (VRS) invites, following the removal of MRQs earlier in the season.

The opening day of Stage 1 includes several notable matchups. PARIVISION begin their Major run against The Huns, while FaZe face Lynn Vision and Legacy take on FlyQuest. NRG will compete with a roster change, fielding Damian “daps” Steele in place of Nick “nitr0” Cannella.

Fantasy rewards for Stage 1 include season points and a selection of skin prizes, such as Hydra Gloves in various finishes.

What the Players Are Saying

Dzhami “Jame” Ali recently emphasized the strength of PARIVISION’s leadership dynamic, highlighting his long-standing connection with coach Dastan “dastan” Akbayev. Jame noted that the two “speak the same language” and described their partnership as “the key” to continued progress.

FaZe rifler Russel “Twistzz” Van Dulken spoke candidly about the team’s struggles heading into Budapest. He pointed out that an overloaded travel and practice schedule hurt their team cohesion, making it difficult to maintain structured play over the past weeks.

Legacy’s emerging talent Guilherme “saadzin” Pacheco also reflected on his personal development, explaining that he has moved past stat-chasing and is now more focused on empowering his teammates and contributing to the bigger picture.

Additional Storylines Surrounding the Budapest Major

Brazil continues to strengthen its presence on the global stage, setting a new national record with 28 Brazilian players competing at the event. FURIA, in particular, are highlighted as a major contender for the deeper stages of the tournament.

This Major also marks a historic shift in format: Budapest is the first to feature a best-of-five grand final, a structure that tournament organizers intend to maintain moving forward.

Finally, the 2025 Budapest Major stands out for its remarkably low rookie count. Only 19 players are making their Major debut, reinforcing the event’s reputation as a battleground dominated by established elite competitors.