sh1ro Reacts to Team Spirit’s Exit at StarLadder Budapest Major 2025: “It Hurts to Lose Like This”

Team Spirit AWPer Dmitry “sh1ro” Sokolov commented on his team’s elimination from the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025, calling the loss extremely painful due to how close the series was. Spirit were knocked out in the CS2 Major semi-final by Team Vitality, finishing the tournament in 3–4th place.

sh1ro: “We Lost on Micro-Details”

In a post-match Team Spirit vlog, sh1ro admitted that the defeat felt avoidable and wasn’t caused by a gap in skill or preparation:

“It’s painful to lose on micro-details. There are many moments like that. When you’re playing, it feels stupid to lose games this way, but you can’t change it.”

The Russian sniper emphasized that small decision-making errors and missed moments ultimately cost Spirit the series.

StarLadder Budapest Major 2025: Spirit vs Vitality

Team Vitality defeated Team Spirit 2–0 in the semi-final:

• Mirage — 19:17

• Dust2 — 13:8

Despite the loss, Spirit pushed Vitality on Mirage into overtime and remained competitive throughout the match. Vitality later went on to win the Major, confirming their dominance in the current CS2 esports season.

Coach hally Addresses Team Spirit’s Mistakes

Spirit’s head coach Sergey “hally” Shavaev was shown delivering a blunt message during a timeout. He criticized the team for abandoning their game plan and trying to overcomplicate situations:

“Don’t invent something new. Just do what we discussed. Especially when we’re ahead.”

The coach’s words echoed sh1ro’s assessment — discipline and structure broke down at key moments.

Individual Performance and Tournament Recognition

Even with the semi-final exit, sh1ro received an HLTV EVP (Exceptionally Valuable Player) award for his consistent performance throughout the event. Team Spirit leave Budapest with:

• Top-4 Major finish

• $80,000 in prize money

• Improved standing in the Valve CS2 team ranking

Vitality’s Perspective: Confidence and Preparation

Following their win over Spirit, Vitality players credited preparation and in-game leadership. Rifler flameZ highlighted apEX’s calling, while mezii later stated that only winning matters at this level:

“No one remembers second place. We wanted to lift the trophy.”

Vitality ultimately defeated FaZe Clan 3–1 in the grand final, becoming back-to-back CS Major champions.

What This Loss Means for Team Spirit

While the Budapest Major ended in disappointment, Spirit’s performance reinforced their status as a top-tier CS2 team. With players like sh1ro and donk, the roster remains one of the most dangerous in elite competition — and their own players believe the margin to victory is thin.