All teams competing at StarLadder Budapest Major Stage 2

Image of StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 Stage 2 arena illuminated by white lighting

After an opening stage packed with surprise results, the teams competing at Stage 2 of the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 are set.

Amongst some of Counter-Strike’s established names, several underdogs emerged from Stage 1 while established names fell at the first hurdle.

Before the second stage of Counter-Strike’s season-ending tournament begins, Esports Insider takes a look at the next batch of teams competing in the Hungarian capital.

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StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 Stage 2 Teams

Stage 2 of the Budapest Major follows the same Swiss stage format as the first stage, with 16 teams battling it out to secure three victories over five rounds.

A total of 10 teams from Europe feature in Stage 2, including several former Major winners. Three teams from the Americas look to advance alongside two from Asia, which know what it takes to spring a surprise.

Teams that earn three wins book a place in Stage 3, while those that don’t are eliminated from the tournament.

Aurora Gaming

Currently ranked fifth in the Valve Regional Standings (VRS), the Turkish roster of Aurora Gaming heads into the Major after hitting a purple patch. Victory at PGL Masters Bucharest 2025 was the team’s first notable LAN victory, laying the foundations for a potentially strong end to 2025.

Aurora Gaming begins Stage 2 against an M80 side that has performed well so far.

NAVI

One place behind Aurora Gaming in the global standings is NAVI, another team that has shown glimpses of potential in high-profile tournaments. In September, the Ukrainian organisation swept aside Ninjas in Pyjamas to win StarLadder StarSeries Fall 2025, sparking an upward turn of form.

Despite falling victim to a reverse sweep at the hands of FURIA at the Thunderpick World Championship 2025, NAVI is among the European sides expected to advance. The team takes on FlyQuest in its opening Stage 2 match.

Team Liquid

2025 has been a year of turbulence for Team Liquid, resulting in the departure of Russel ‘Twistzz’ Van Dulken and the return of Jonathan ‘ELiGE’ Jablonowski. A top-four finish at FISSURE Playground 2 and a top-eight at PGL Masters Bucharest 2025 saw a roster packed with experience show signs of life once again.

After bowing out of the Austin Major with a top 16 placement, Budapest acts as an opportunity for an inconsistent Team Liquid to end the year on a high note, building some early momentum for 2026.

Team Liquid opens its Stage 2 campaign against B8. The Ukrainian side qualified for the second phase with a 3-1 record, taking wins over Parivision and Legacy.

3DMAX

3DMAX looks to restore French Counter-Strike’s hopes with a strong showing in Budapest. A top-16 finish at IEM Chengdu 2025 is the organisation’s most recent Tier 1 appearance, losing to Lynn Vision Gaming in the Group Stage.

Second place at the CS Asia Championship 2025 demonstrated the wealth of experience possessed by the all-French roster. If 3DMAX looks to advance further than Stage 2, the experience will be called upon once again as it takes on Fnatic in round one.

Astralis

For the first time in three years, Astralis returns to the Major stage after managing to cement itself as a team armed with the capabilities to make an impact in Stage 2. After successfully navigating its way through the IEM Chengdu group stage, the Danish side even managed to take a map off Team Vitality before scoring a top-six finish.

Two second places at PGL Astana 2025 and FISSURE Playground 1 remain the highlights of Astralis’ season. With promising showings against the heavy hitters, Astralis has the tools required to make a deep run.

Astralis takes on Ninjas in Pyjamas in its opening match, with both teams looking to return to former glory.

TYLOO

2025 has been a year of growth for Chinese Counter-Strike on the international stage. Spearheaded by TYLOO, the team skyrocketed up the VRS, reaching a high of ninth in August.

TYLOO struck gold at FISSURE Playground 1, winning the tournament with coach Zhong ‘zhokiNg’ Weijie acting as a temporary stand-in for AWPer Ji ‘Jee’ Dongkai. Since victory in July, the Chinese side has struggled to find its footing in top-tier tournaments.

Failure to qualify for the Chengdu playoffs, along with missing out on an arena appearance at BLAST Rivals Fall 2025, TYLOO head into the Major looking to rekindle the form that saw it capture the attention of Counter-Strike fans across the world.

TYLOO faces off against Parivision in round one of Stage 2.

MIBR

In a bid to find success, MIBR has transitioned away from an all-Brazilian roster in favour of an international team. In August and September, the organisation recruited Klimentiy ‘kl1m’ Krivosheev and Aleksei ‘Qikert’ Golubev on loan deals with the aim of building on a top 20 finish at the Austin Major.

The roster moves quickly generated success in regional tournaments, with victory at FERJEE Rush 2025 and Circuit X South America Season 1 cementing the team as one of the Americas’ hottest prospects.

In international competition, MIBR hasn’t found form just yet and heads to Budapest on the back of a top 16 finish at PGL Masters Bucharest 2025. The Major has already seen the likes of RED Canids and Fluxo spring surprises, and there’s every chance MIBR is capable of surprising its opponents.

The Brazilian organisation battles a familiar opponent in the form of Imperial Esports in Stage 2’s first round.

Passion UA

Following the demise of Complexity’s Counter-Strike division, Ukrainian organisation Passion UA stepped in and acquired the core, giving it a solid platform within the VRS system.

While the team has limited Tier 1 appearances in 2025, Passion UA has found success in Tier 2 and Tier 3 tournaments, winning Urban Riga Open #1 and scoring a third-place finish at DraculaN #3.

After a top 20 placement at the Perfect World Shanghai Major in late 2024, it will be interesting to see if the new roster can achieve a better result against some stiff competition.

Passion UA faces an uphill challenge in Stage 2, as it takes on a FaZe Clan side that narrowly avoided elimination in Stage 1.

FlyQuest

FlyQuest headed into the Major under the radar as Australia’s sole representative at the event. While it has shown signs of life in regional tournaments, the team has struggled to translate its form onto the international stage.

The team managed to spring a huge surprise in the opening stage, winning all three of its matches to earn a place in Stage 2.

FlyQuest possesses the quality needed to continue its strong Major campaign, even with the calibre of teams moving up a gear. Advancing from Stage 2 is a tricky task, but there is potential for it to keep momentum rolling if it can overcome NAVI in the first round.

M80

North American Counter-Strike often struggles to make an impact within the Tier 1 scene, but M80 looks to change things with a continuation of its flawless Stage 1 performance.

Victories over B8, Imperial Esports, and Fluxo cemented its place in Stage 2. M80 is no stranger to the second phase of a Major, having started the Austin Major in a position to make Stage 3. The previous Major saw M80 score a solitary win over OG Esports and three defeats, ending its tournament.

Stage 2 in Budapest allows M80 to build on the Stage 1 momentum and secure its place as North America’s top Counter-Strike team. It begins its Stage 2 campaign against Aurora Gaming in the opening round.

Ninjas in Pyjamas

For the first time in two years, Ninjas in Pyjamas has returned to a Counter-Strike Major. Despite beginning Stage 1 with a defeat to NRG, the team responded emphatically, with three consecutive wins over Lynn Vision Gaming, FaZe Clan, and Fluxo to earn a place in Stage 2.

While its recent form has shown it can compete against Europe’s top teams, a top-16 finish at PGL Masters Bucharest 2025 shows there’s still work to do in order for the Ninjas to be considered a top team once again.

Ninjas in Pyjamas kicks off Stage 2 with a Scandinavian clash against Astralis.

B8

Image of B8 Counter-Strike player competing at StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 — Image credit: StarLadder

B8 is among several teams that flew under the radar during Stage 1 in Budapest. Solid showings over The Huns Esports, Parivision, and Legacy earned the team a place in the next stage, along with an opportunity to improve on its Austin Major performance.

The previous Major saw the Ukrainians narrowly miss out on Stage 3 despite taking down Team Falcons and HEROIC.

B8 has a chance to start Stage 2 on the front foot against a Team Liquid that is yet to fire on all cylinders.

Fnatic

Fnatic continues its journey back towards the pinnacle of Counter-Strike esports. The Fragadelphia Blocktober champions opted for a late roster change before the tournament, and so far, it has proven fruitful.

Fnatic advanced from Stage 1 thanks to victories over RED Canids, Imperial Esports, and NRG, demonstrating its superiority over a trio of North and South American sides.

There have been occasions where Fnatic’s team play has proven incredibly effective. A battle against 3DMAX in round one of Stage 2 could prove to be a highly competitive match.

FaZe Clan

Against all odds, FaZe Clan took the longest route out of Stage 1, winning its three remaining games and coming back from the brink of elimination on several occasions.

Having overcome RED Canids and Fluxo by the narrowest of margins, it’s clear that the team is yet to take it up a gear. If the team struggles in the early rounds for a second time, it’s unclear if the Red Militia will make it through as stronger teams enter the fray.

With the Swiss stage now reset, FaZe Clan faces off against Passion UA in round one.

Imperial Esports

Similar to FaZe Clan, the Brazilian side of Imperial Esports also required all five rounds to earn its place in Stage 2 in the Hungarian capital.

Losses to FlyQuest and Fnatic put the team on the back foot, but 2-0 sweeps of The Huns Esports and NRG wrapped up an opening stage with some excellent defensive displays.

The road to Stage 3 begins with an all-Brazilian clash against MIBR. The two sides met at FERJEE Rush in September, with MIBR emerging victorious in a hotly contested Grand Final.

Parivision

The 16th and final team competing in Stage 2 of the Budapest is Parivision, which demonstrated incredible composure to overcome Legacy in its fifth round tie.

Heading into the Major fresh from victory in ESL Challenger League, the Serbian organisation dug deep against the Brazilians in a thrilling double overtime Dust II decider to secure its place in the next stage.

Dzhami ‘Jame’ Ali has found his footing alongside the four Major rookies, who continue to gain valuable experience that is going to prove crucial as the tournament progresses. The team begins Stage 2 against FISSURE Playground 1 champions TYLOO.

Source: https://esportsinsider.com/