Passion UA Secures 2–2 Pool Spot at StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 with 2–0 Sweep over Imperial Esports
Passion UA Secures 2–2 Pool Spot at StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 with 2–0 Sweep over Imperial Esports
What Happened
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The match between Passion UA and Imperial Esports took place on December 6, 2025, as part of Stage 3 (the 1-2 elimination round) of StarLadder Budapest Major 2025.
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Passion UA emerged victorious with a 2–0 series win, eliminating Imperial and securing their spot in the “2-2 pool.”
Map Breakdown
| Map | Score | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Inferno (Passion UA’s pick) | 13–8 | Passion UA took control early. They led 8–4 by halftime. Despite a brief Imperial push after the break, Passion UA closed out the map with composure. |
| Dust2 (Imperial’s pick) | 13–10 | Passion UA started strong on CT side, leading 8–4 at half. They withstood an Imperial comeback attempt and secured the map — and the series. |
Because it was a best-of-three and Passion UA won the first two maps, a third map wasn’t required.
Road to Redemption for Passion UA
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The start of Stage 3 was rough: Passion UA lost two best-of-one matches, first to G2 Esports and then to Falcons. As a result, they were sent to the 0–2 pool, putting their Major hopes in jeopardy.
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Refusing to fold, Passion UA bounced back — first eliminating Team Liquid (2–0), then delivering the decisive win over Imperial.
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This rebound confirms their resilience under pressure and ability to recover from a shaky start.
Significance of the Result
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For Passion UA, this is not just a match win — it’s survival. The 2–0 sweep over Imperial grants them a lifeline in the Major and keeps their playoff aspirations alive.
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For Imperial Esports, the loss ends their tournament run. Having fought through the earlier stages, they now bow out at Stage 3.
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The result shows that despite an initial setback (two quick 0–1 losses), a team can still recover — a testament to mental strength and adaptability under the Swiss-system pressure at a Major.
Who Stood Out
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Key players such as veteran in-game leader Johnny “JT” Theodosiou and Vladyslav “Kvem” Korol delivered clutch rounds and consistent performance — notable for helping turn the series in Passion UA’s favor.
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Their win adds to Passion UA’s recent momentum: the team has now won their last two series (versus Liquid and Imperial) after the rough Stage 3 start.
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