StarLadder is returning to the world of Counter-Strike with StarSeries Fall 2025, and the format takes a different approach to CS2 tournaments than most.
StarLadder was once a staple of CSGO esports, running a number of tournaments from 2012 to 2019 including a CS major. Since 2020, however, the tournament organizer has effectively disappeared. Now it’s back with another major planned for later this year, but first comes its re-debut with StarLadder StarSeries Fall 2025.
| Event | StarSeries Fall 2025 |
|---|---|
| Start date | September 18, 2025 |
| End date | September 21, 2025 |
| Prize pool | $500,000 |
| Teams | 8 |
| Location | Budapest, Hungary |
There are eight teams competing in StarLadder StarSeries Fall 2025, with four being invitees decided through the VRS and four being teams that earned a spot through qualifiers. NaVi, B8, Ninjas in Pyjamas, and Passion UA are the teams invited. 9INE, Parivision, OG, and Gentle Mates worked their way through the qualifiers to earn a spot. But of course, not all of these teams have a serious chance of winning.
NAVI is regarded as the clear favorite to win StarSeries Fall 2025. While NAVI has been generally underwhelming throughout 2025, it remains a strong top-10 team. And it’s the only team in StarSeries Fall that can make that claim. The team has been inconsistent enough that it’s not guaranteed to win and the squad is still adjusting to a roster change. But it’s a definitive cut above anyone else in the tournament.
While NAVI is the decisive favorite, it has plenty of serviceable contenders.
Ninjas in Pyjamas is widely pegged as the second-best team in this event. The organization’s storied history is small in the rear-view mirror at this point but the team has flexed its muscles a few times in 2025. That includes better-than-expected showings at PGL Astana and IEM Cologne.
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Past that is a pileup of possible outside contenders. B8 and Parivision have been strong on the tier-two scene throughout the year while Passion UA absorbed most of Complexity Gaming’s roster that has shown flashes of brilliance.
The only teams whose chances should be brushed off entirely are 9INE and Gentle Mates. Neither has shown anything to suggest a run here would be possible.
StarLadder is returning with an odd format relative to the norms of Counter-Strike 2.
The tournament includes a small pool of teams, with just eight set to compete. There is no group stage of any kind, with all teams starting in the playoffs. What’s more, these playoffs aren’t just standard CS2 fare.
Rather than just whittling things down to one team through single-elimination play, StarSeries Fall 2025 will use a double-elimination bracket. As the name suggests, teams are only eliminated after sustaining two losses in the playoffs. This provides a greater margin for error for NAVI, which is largely expected to win.
StarSeries Fall 2025 kicks off on September 18, 2025 at 11 am ET / 5 pm CET. The action begins immediately with the playoffs, with four matches set to open the first day. Here is the first lineup of matches set for the opening round of the playoffs:
StarSeries Fall 2025 will have a prize pool worth $500,000. All eight teams will receive a cut, starting at $10,000 for the shared last-place finishers. Here is the full breakdown by place:
| Place | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | $200,000 |
| 2nd | $130,000 |
| 3rd | $70,000 |
| 4th | $40,000 |
| 5th-6th | $20,000 |
| 7th-8th | $10,000 |
StarLadder does not have any sort of seasonal structure with extra payouts similar to ESL’s Intel Grand Slam. Instead, teams here are playing for both money and improved standing in the VRS. For teams like Ninjas in Pyjamas, Passion UA, and B8 that have posted some big wins in the past, getting a championship trophy here could help them earn invites to more and bigger tournaments.
NAVI is close to guaranteed to make the finals of StarLeague Fall 2025 and is the clear favorite to win the event. While upsets happen in Counter-Strike, it’s highly unlikely that two of them happen to NAVI in such quick succession. Here are some quick tips for the event.
It’s worth noting that according to popular rankings, NAVI is the top-ranked team in this event at ninth. The next-highest are 22nd-ranked NiP, 25th-ranked B8, and 26th OG. All three of those teams are on the opposite side of the upper bracket from NAVI. Because of this, if NAVI wins its opener against 9INE, it has a clear shot at the grand finals and should be seen as having that much better odds to win the event as a whole.
Featured image credit: NAVI
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