Rounding off the 2025 Counter-Strike 2 esports calendar, StarLadder Budapest Main 2025 options 32 of the groups on this planet for an opportunity to etch their names in historical past.
Valve’s second tentpole event is full of seasoned veterans in search of one final shot at glory and rookies hoping to cement their names within the historical past books.
Because the groups head to the Hungarian capital, Esports Insider takes a have a look at 5 gamers to be careful for through the occasion.
Time For Jcobbb To Shine?
Since signing for FaZe Clan in August, Jakub ‘jcobbb’ Pietruszweski has struggled to make his mark on a roster armed with a wealth of expertise in top-tier tournaments. Up to now three months, the group has positioned no larger than sixth, even with Russel ‘Twistzz’ Van Dulken returning to the beginning lineup.
Filling the sneakers of Jonathan ‘ELiGE’ Jablonowski continues to be a difficult activity for jcobb, a younger participant nonetheless discovering his ft on the worldwide stage. FaZe Clan is but to conjure the magic that noticed it attain consecutive Main Grand Finals in 2024, nevertheless it begins its Budapest Main marketing campaign as the very best profile group in Stage 1.
When firing on all cylinders, FaZe Clan can contend towards the world’s greatest. If jcobbb hits the bottom operating, the possibilities of the Crimson Militia advancing to Stage 2 are excessive.
Can Controlez Discover Kind?
The arrival of Unudelger ‘controlez’ Baasanjargal to The MongolZ caught many unexpectedly. Regardless of topping October’s Valve Regional Standings (VRS) and ending second on the Austin Main, the Mongolian nationwide group opted to bench Azbayar ‘Senzu’ Munkhbold in favour of the 28-year-old rifler.
Budapest marks the second Main look for Controlez, having represented Chinggis Warriors in Austin. Whereas the rifler brings a wealth of expertise from a profession spanning a decade, it stays unclear if The MongolZ can modify with out Senzu’s spectacular fragging means.
Forward of the Main, the new-look group has displayed glimpses of brilliance, nevertheless it stays to be seen if The MongolZ can return to kind and finish the 12 months on a excessive be aware.
Is JamYoung The Key To Chinese language Success?
The Chinese language Counter-Strike scene has continued to determine itself as one of many world’s fastest-growing areas, with a number of groups and gamers discovering success in worldwide tournaments. TYLOO, specifically, managed to cement its place as one of many world’s greatest groups after successful FISSURE Playground 1, the primary event following the post-Austin Main break.
Through the event, Yang ‘JamYoung’ Ji excelled because the group tailored to competing with coach Zhong ‘zhokiNg’ Weijie rather than Ji ‘Jee’ Dongkai for almost all of the occasion. Even with Jee returning to the AWP position, JamYoung continued to make an impression, topping the scoreboard with 90 eliminations over the Grand Last’s 4 maps.
Heading into Budapest, TYLOO’s kind has continued a downward trajectory, failing to make the playoffs of any Tier 1 occasion it competed in. Nevertheless, the impression of an in-form JamYoung can’t go unnoticed. If the rifler is performing to an identical degree of FISSURE Playground 1, the Chinese language facet may spring a number of surprises throughout its Main marketing campaign.
Will Donk Spearhead Crew Spirit To Glory?
All through the primary half of 2025, Crew Spirit was among the many groups able to dethroning Crew Vitality from the highest step of the rostrum. Following the Austin Main, early indicators of building its personal run of dominance got here to fruition with victories at IEM Cologne 2025 and BLAST Bounty Season 2.
Usually on the forefront of Crew Spirit’s success is Danil ‘donk’ Kryshkovets. Since becoming a member of the primary roster in 2023, the 18-year-old has turn out to be the most effective riflers on the planet, persistently demonstrating medical precision and the power to clutch.
Following its triumph at BLAST Bounty, Crew Spirit’s kind has began to say no, with a top-six placement at BLAST Rivals Fall 2025 being the very best consequence since August. Donk stays a pressure to be reckoned with on the server, and so long as his firepower doesn’t drop, Crew Spirit has an opportunity of turning into a two-time Main winner.
Molodoy’s Probability For Greatness
FURIA’s pivot to a world roster in April has resulted within the Brazilian organisation turning into the world’s greatest Counter-Strike group, topping November’s VRS. AWPer Danil ‘molodoy’ Golubenko has surpassed all expectations within the eight months with the group, usually proving his value with the sniper in hand.
Below the steerage of Gabriel ‘FalleN’ Toledo, molodoy continues to impress on the largest phases. Superior positioning mixed with lightning-fast response occasions has acted because the catalyst for FURIA’s climb to the highest of the worldwide scene.
With many predicting FURIA to carry the trophy, molodoy will play a pivotal position if he’s to spherical off a implausible rookie season with Counter-Strike’s largest prize.
