StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 Stage 1: Format, Teams, Expert Predictions and Player Reactions

StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 Stage 1: Format, Teams, Expert Predictions and Player Reactions

StarLadder Budapest Major 2025, the fourth CS2 Major, will be held from 24 November to 14 December in Hungary’s capital. All three Swiss stages will take place at the newly constructed MTK Sportpark, a 2,000-seat multi-purpose arena, while the playoffs will move to the larger MVM Dome.

Format and Schedule

The Major follows Valve’s updated structure:

32 teams total

Three 16-team Swiss stages

Stage 1 (24–27 Nov): 16 invited teams

Stage 2 (29 Nov – 2 Dec): 8 invited + 8 qualified from Stage 1

Stage 3 (4–7 Dec): 16-team Swiss to decide playoff squads

Playoffs (11–14 Dec): Single elimination, with a best-of-five grand final

Stage 1 format:

Swiss system with 16 teams

Opening, 1–1, and 1–2 matches played as best-of-one

Advancement and elimination matches are best-of-three

Top eight teams progress to Stage 2

The tournament will use the classic seven-map CS2 pool: Dust2, Mirage, Inferno, Nuke, Train, Overpass, Ancient.

Stage 1 Teams

Stage 1 invites are based on Valve Regional Standings and results from the Austin Major earlier in the year.

Europe (6):
FaZe Clan, GamerLegion, Ninjas in Pyjamas, B8 Esports, PARIVISION, fnatic

Americas (6):
Legacy, Imperial Esports, M80, NRG Esports, Fluxo, RED Canids

Asia (4):
Lynn Vision, The Huns, FlyQuest, Rare Atom

Key Round-One Matchups:
Legacy vs FlyQuest, B8 vs M80, PARIVISION vs The Huns, FaZe vs Lynn Vision, Imperial vs Rare Atom, GamerLegion vs Fluxo, NIP vs NRG, fnatic vs RED Canids.

Expert Predictions and Talent Expectations

Various analysts and creators have shared their Pick’em predictions for Stage 1.

Talent Pick’em Highlights

A summary of 15 talent Pick’ems shows:

Most trusted (“safe”) qualifiers:

GamerLegion

fnatic

B8

Popular bold 3-0 picks:

FaZe

Legacy

Teams most often picked for 0-3:

The Huns

RED Canids

Rare Atom

Notable analyst takes:

ash combines established teams like FaZe and GamerLegion with riskier picks such as PARIVISION and RED Canids.

Austin prefers proven names—FaZe, fnatic, NIP—valuing their big-event experience.

fl0m places extra confidence in NA teams like NRG and M80.

STYKO and FURIOUSSS point out Fluxo and Legacy as dark-horse threats.

Overall, experts expect FaZe, GamerLegion, B8, fnatic, Legacy, and NIP to advance, while The Huns, RED Canids, and Rare Atom are considered the most vulnerable.

Community Pick’ems

Fan-driven Pick’em events have surged in popularity:

Platforms are offering their own Budapest Pick’em Challenges, mirroring Valve's system with 3-0, 0-3, and seven “advance” positions.

Guides encourage factoring in LAN experience, crowd dynamics, and travel distance.

Community-aggregated Pick’ems (such as those shared on Reddit) typically list FaZe, GamerLegion, NIP, and Legacy as the safest bets.

Player Reactions and Form Heading Into the Major

KSCERATO (FURIA): “There are no bad teams at the Major”

FURIA enter Budapest in exceptional form after winning BLAST Rivals Season 2, their fourth title in five tournaments.
KSCERATO stressed the importance of staying grounded:

“There are no bad teams at the Major, you can lose to everyone, so we have to focus on ourselves.”

He emphasized that despite their success, overconfidence can be dangerous.

flameZ (Vitality): “The real focus is the Major”

Vitality’s Shahar “flameZ” Shushan said that a recent hard-fought win over Team Spirit helped the team regain rhythm, but admitted other contenders currently look sharper. Still, he made clear that peaking at the Major is the team’s top priority.

donk (Spirit): “We need to beat Vitality to be No.1”

After Spirit’s dominant victory at BLAST Bounty Season 2, Danil “donk” Kryshkovets remarked:

“We didn’t face Vitality, and I think we need to beat them to become the best team in the world.”

Spirit will begin their Major run from a higher stage, but they aim for a defining win over their biggest rival.

NAVI and jL: A strategic sixth man

NAVI have registered Justinas “jL” Lekavicius as their sixth player for the Budapest Major.
Following NAVI’s disappointing exit from the Shanghai Major last year, jL admitted he struggled mentally, saying:

“I got into a rabbit hole of negative thinking after the first day and couldn’t come back.”

His return suggests NAVI are preparing for a long, mentally demanding event.

Venues and Atmosphere

The MTK Sportpark, completed in 2025, is one of Hungary’s most modern sports complexes and will host all Swiss stages. Tickets are sold by stage, giving fans an opportunity to follow the entire 32-team Swiss gauntlet live.

StarLadder emphasizes that Stage 1 will have a live audience, increasing the potential for crowd-powered upsets—especially for underdogs.

Skins, Stickers and the CS2 Economy

Collectors and investors are watching Budapest closely:

The Viewer Pass and Pick’em rewards will include exclusive stickers and capsules.

New autograph and team sticker collections are already gaining traction among traders.

Early-stage underdogs such as PARIVISION or Legacy could significantly impact sticker prices if they overperform.

Editorial Stage 1 Outlook

Based on talent predictions and public Pick’ems:

Most likely to advance:
FaZe, GamerLegion, fnatic, B8, Legacy, NIP

Teams with upset potential:
PARIVISION, NRG, M80, Fluxo, Imperial, Lynn Vision, FlyQuest

At-risk teams:
The Huns, RED Canids, Rare Atom

Pick’em recommendations from experts:

Use FaZe or Legacy as “safe advance” picks, not for the risky 3-0.

Consider stable mid-tier picks like GamerLegion or B8 for 3-0.

For 0-3, many choose The Huns or Rare Atom due to inexperience and travel challenges.