Team Spirit and FURIA secure StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 Playoffs

Ganesh Jadhav

Day 2 of the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 Stage 3 has concluded with two of the best CS teams, FURIA and Team Spirit, securing their tickets to the MVM Dome.

On the B stream, we also bid adieu to Parivision and Team Liquid, moving towards the final eight teams that will attend the Budapest Major 2025 Playoffs.

Team Spirit Triumph Over MOUZ

With their recent runs pretty much always ending behind the top 4 teams, not many expected Team Spirit to go through flawlessly. But, donk came to play, starting the Major with an ace, his performance ensuring Team Spirit ended Day 1 with a 2-0 record.

Facing MOUZ in the 2-0 bracket, donk put up another show on Mirage to secure a 1-0 lead for Team Spirit. Their opponents answered back on Train and carried the momentum of map win into Overpass, the decider.

On the final map, MOUZ’s stellar defense held Spirit to only four rounds. As the sides switched, Spirit used the CT-side advantage to its full potential, coming back to win the map 13-11, and the series 2-1. This win secured them the Budapest Major 2025 Playoffs.

A Major Contender Rises

Team Spirit's performance has only added excitement to the Major. Before Budapest, many expected it to be a donk show, while the rest of the Spirit dragged him down.

This largely meant a lackluster Spirit, a team lacking “spirit”. But that wasn’t the case, despite early hiccups in the individual performance, they have been playing well together. This performance only makes Playoffs that much more interesting and convoluted.

VAMOS FURIA

Coming into Budapest, the Brazilian fanbase and the analysts had big expectations from FURIA. Their recent rise meant entering the tournament as the favorites, but that also meant added pressure. While the core of FURIA — especially the Professor, FalleN — has immense experience, the question was how rookie AWP superstar molodoy, attending only his second Major, would respond.

But FURIA delivered what we expected from them, a clean and almost surgical 3-0. They limited their opponents to single digit rounds, with the exception of the G2 Overpass game, where their opponents took 10 rounds before FURIA secured the Budapest Major 2025 Playoffs.

The biggest relief, however, is molodoy’s performance. The youngster rose up to the Major’s challenge and put up a stellar AWP performance. If he continues to hit shots like he has been, FalleN’s masterclass will definitely bring FURIA an inch closer to another Brazilian Major.

G2 Esports Is No Joke

Despite getting dismantled by FURIA, it doesn’t take away from the fact that G2 Esports had an amazing Day 1 at Stage 3 of the Budapest Major 2025. The International squad flexed their synergy and structure, completely annihilating the competition.

On Day 1, they played confidently, but this was missing during their game against FURIA, which led to them losing the match. Hopefully, they come back to showcase yet another strong game tomorrow against Team Vitality.

Tomorrow, FaZe Clan faces elimination, alongside other teams. In the upper side of the bracket, G2 Esports, The MongolZ, MOUZ, Falcons, NAVI and Team Vitality battle for three Playoff berths.

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Featured Image Credits: Helena Kristiansson // IEM Cologne