Stage 3 Matchups Set for StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 — FURIA vs Natus Vincere and Team Vitality vs FaZe Headline Swiss Round

Stage 3 Matchups Set for StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 — FURIA vs Natus Vincere and Team Vitality vs FaZe Headline Swiss Round

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🎯 Overview

The second stage of the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 has wrapped up, and now the tournament advances into its decisive phase: Stage 3 — the final 16-team Swiss group stage. 

This stage will determine which eight teams progress to the single-elimination playoffs. 

The headlining matches for Round 1 of Stage 3 include:

• FURIA vs Natus Vincere — their first meeting since Natus Vincere fell to FURIA in the grand final of the Thunderpick World Championship.

• Team Vitality vs FaZe — a rematch of the ESL Pro League Season 22 semi-final, though FaZe now bring a lineup change with jcobbb replacing rain.

Other notable initial matchups include:

• Falcons vs B8

• MOUZ vs PARIVISION

• Liquid vs Spirit

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📋 Format — What’s at Stake

The 2025 Budapest Major operates under a three-stage Swiss format, each featuring 16 teams. From the 32 original participants, eight teams advance from each previous stage. 

• Stage 1 — November 24–27: 16 teams (divided by region), playing BO1 Swiss matches; top 8 advance.

• Stage 2 — November 29–December 2: 16 teams (qualified from Stage 1 + new invites), same format; top 8 advance to Stage 3.

• Stage 3 — December 4–7: final 16 teams (8 from Stage 2 + 8 seeded via VRS), BO1 Swiss group; the top 8 progress to playoffs.

Unlike previous Majors, this event will feature a best-of-five grand final for the first time. 

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🧭 Recent Highlights & How We Got Here

• Natus Vincere secured their Stage 3 berth after a clean 3-0 cap: they defeated FlyQuest, Imperial, and B8 — without dropping a map.

• Passion UA clinched one of the final spots by edging out M80 with a 2-1 decider — securing a hard-fought Stage 3 qualification.

• According to recent coverage, five more teams earned their Stage 3 invites just hours ago, while five were eliminated after Stage 2 concluded.

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🗓️ Stage 3 — Opening Round Schedule (Dec 4, 2025)

(All matches are best-of-one.)