Top Highlights of the Budapest Major 2025 Stage 2: Underdogs Rise, Giants Fall

StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 Stage 2 delivered huge upsets, elite clutches, and early exits for some of CS2’s biggest names. From PARIVISION’s shocking run to Team Liquid’s last-second survival, here are the key storylines and top highlights that defined the second stage.

PARIVISION Shock the Major

The biggest Stage 2 storyline belonged to PARIVISION, who stunned both Ninjas in Pyjamas and Team Liquid with high-impact Deagle rounds and clutch consistency. nota’s 4Ks and late-round conversions pushed the underdogs straight into Stage 3.

Liquid Survive Elimination and Crush Astralis

Liquid’s Stage 2 run was a mix of near-disaster and dominance. They scraped past TYLOO in overtime before sweeping Astralis 2–0 to advance. Rifler Grim summed up the emotional win:

“It sucks it’s for Major elimination.”

Stellar Individual Moments

Stage 2 was packed with mechanical brilliance:

Mercury (TYLOO) delivered a massive 1v4 clutch before TYLOO were knocked out by Liquid.

Maka (3DMAX) produced early-round AWP wallbangs and eco-round heroics, helping secure the team’s Stage 3 spot.

w0nderful fired off one of the event’s cleanest Deagle 4Ks, reinforcing his status as one of CS2’s top aimers.

Jame forced overtime with a trademark patience-driven clutch to keep his team alive.

Passion UA and Imperial Break Through

Two more big stories came from the lower bracket:

Passion UA eliminated M80 in a tense three-map thriller to secure a historic Stage 3 berth.

Imperial relied on veteran resilience, converting key 2v4 and 3v5 situations to stay in the Major.

Major Names Crash Out

Stage 2 also claimed several high-profile eliminations:

Astralis bowed out early after losses to M80, NiP, and Liquid — one of their worst Major finishes ever.

Ninjas in Pyjamas exited 2–3 after OT struggles and the decisive loss to PARIVISION.

fnatic fell after a collapse against Passion UA.

Who Advanced to Stage 3

Verified Stage 3 qualifiers from HLTV’s event hub include:
FaZe, Natus Vincere, B8, PARIVISION, Liquid, 3DMAX, Imperial, Passion UA, and others securing their spots through tight 2–2 matches.