The first two stages of the StarLadder Budapest Major have concluded, with the 16 best teams in the world still in the fight for the grandest prize of all – the Major trophy.
We won’t have to wait long for the top teams to butt heads, as some of the Stage 3 opening matchups are spicy, to say the least.
The defending Major champions, Vitality, will be facing the complete wildcard that is FaZe Clan. While the current best team in the world, FURIA, will take on the red-hot Natus Vincere.
With such exciting opening games coming our way, let’s dive right into our preview and predictions.
Can Liquid win four games in a row? Credit: © StarLadder
The first game we chose to highlight is Spirit’s opener against Team Liquid. On paper, the majority Russian squad should wipe the floor with Liquid, but the circumstances might favor the underdogs.
Liquid come into Stage 3 on the back of three consecutive best-of-three victories against MIBR, TYLOO, and Astralis. The main catalyst behind Liquid’s results has been the improved form of Roland “ultimate” Tomkowiak. The team’s sniper has been on fire in the high-pressure games. If he can keep it up, Liquid might pose a challenge against Spirit.
As for the Shanghai Major Champions, they haven’t been playing up to their usual standard in the second half of 2025. Since lifting the trophy at IEM Cologne 2025, they have failed to achieve a single top-four placing. However, it has to be said that they have made a lot of changes to their roster, and it might take more time for the new pieces to gel together.
All in all, this game is much closer in our minds than the odds would suggest. Liquid have an outside chance of upsetting Spirit, but Danil “donk” Kryshkovets and his teammates should still be able to outfrag their opposition with the superior firepower they possess.
Score prediction:
Odds:
Odds courtesy of Stake. Odds are subject to change.
ZywOo hunting for another Major MVP. Credit: © Team Vitality
After witnessing FaZe’s performances in Stage 1, virtually nobody expected the international squad to make it through any further, with some people even predicting them to go 0-3. As it turns out, CS2 gods work in mysterious ways, and we find ourselves eagerly awaiting FaZe taking on Vitality in Stage 3.
In Stage 2, FaZe won four close maps in a row to advance with a 3:0 record. The main difference between their Stage 1 and Stage 2 runs was the stark improvement of Jakub “jcobbb” Pietruszewski’s form. The Pole delivered in crucial moments, and his additional firepower was enough to take FaZe over the line in tight games against Passion UA, Aurora, and NIP.
Vitality are obviously the defending Major Champions. While they have won only a single tournament in 2025’s second season, they are still one of the favorites to lift the StarLadder Budapest Major trophy. The team’s IGL, Dan “apeX” Madesclaire, could make history by joining the four-Majors club alongside a couple of Danes from the infamous Astralis roster.
While FaZe have been on a hot streak, it’s difficult to forget about their uninspiring performances earlier in the Major. Vitality have been the much better team all throughout 2025, and they should simply outclass their opponents in this game.
Score prediction:
Odds:
Odds courtesy of Stake. CS2 odds are subject to change.
The best team in the world has arrived. Credit: © FURIA
FURIA and NAVI have a recent history with each other, having met in the Grand Final of the Thunderpick World Championships 2025. On that occasion, FURIA came out on top, reverse sweeping NAVI in a 3:2 BO5 win.
Despite the Brazilians getting the win, NAVI were very much in the game, as evidenced by their two map wins. Coming into their BO1 opener, it’s not clear-cut as to who will get the win.
NAVI impressed in Stage 2, with Ihor “w0nderful” Zhdanov providing the x-factor. The Ukrainian AWPer topped the charts with his performances, as his opponents were powerless against his moves on the server.
While FURIA are undoubtedly the best team in the world right now, a loss to NAVI in the opening game of the Major is a real possibility. After all, one of the favorites is bound to slip up in their maiden Major match.
Score prediction:
Odds:
Odds courtesy of Stake. Odds are subject to change.
Feature image credit: © StarLadder
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