That includes 32 of the world’s finest Counter-Strike 2 groups, the StarLadder Budapest Main 2025 was probably the most aggressive occasions for Valve’s first-person shooter title.
With a number of groups in rivalry to raise the trophy, the season-ending occasion delivered loads of surprises, together with powerhouse rosters cementing their place on the prime.
Esports Insider appears to be like at a few of the key takeaways from the StarLadder Budapest Main as consideration turns in direction of the beginning of the 2026 season.
The Staff Vitality Period
After rounding off 2025 with two Main titles and eight Tier 1 occasion victories, the Staff Vitality period is nicely and really underway.
Regardless of exhibiting just a few cracks in its once-impenetrable armour throughout the second half of the season, the French organisation has established itself as certainly one of Counter-Strike’s best groups. Along with an enormous assortment of trophies, the staff recorded the second-longest LAN successful streak in historical past, scoring 30 wins between February and June.
Heading into 2026 because the staff to beat, Staff Vitality has withstood the stress with unbelievable ranges of consistency in opposition to any opponent standing in its means.
NA Can Nonetheless Compete
With the rise of Asia and South America, North America’s Counter-Strike scene has struggled to make an impression all through the 2025 season.
Regardless of this, the area confirmed indicators of enchancment within the Hungarian capital, with M80 topping the Stage 1 standings and Ardour UA virtually securing a spot within the Playoffs.
What’s Subsequent For Staff Liquid?
Regardless of besting TYLOO and Astralis in Stage 2, Staff Liquid crashed out of the StarLadder Budapest Main within the third Stage, failing to win a single map.
Overcoming Staff Spirit and The MongolZ within the opening two rounds was at all times going to be a wrestle, however Staff Liquid’s assault collapsed in opposition to Ardour UA, scoring 4 rounds in its 2-0 defeat.
With a number of groups anticipated to make adjustments throughout the low season, Staff Liquid has an opportunity to inject a breath of contemporary air right into a roster that has struggled to seek out consistency during the last 12 months.
MOUZ’s Consistency Isn’t Paying Off
Since successful PGL Cluj-Napoca 2025, MOUZ has positioned no decrease than the highest eight over the previous ten months, demonstrating its skill to compete among the many perfect on this planet.
Nonetheless, one other top-eight end and this time on account of a 2-0 sweep in opposition to FaZe Clan, exhibits that the German organisation is unable to take the subsequent step required to earn common Grand Last appearances and outright victories.
With rumours of a roster change persevering with to flow into, a brand new recruit might be what MOUZ requires to maneuver ahead and add extra trophies subsequent to its Cluj-Napoca title.
FaZe Clan Magic is Alive And Kicking
FaZe Clan’s eventful 2025 got here to a head in Budapest and proved that the worldwide roster can nonetheless make deep runs in Counter-Strike’s largest tournaments.
The Pink Militia got here inside half a second away from a Stage 1 elimination in opposition to RED Canids earlier than dominating Stage 2 and efficiently navigating its means into the Playoffs with a 3-2 file in Stage 3.
The run didn’t cease there. A 2-0 sweep of MOUZ, adopted by a 2-1 victory over NAVI, secured a spot within the Grand Last in opposition to Staff Vitality, the place the staff even managed to win the opening map of the best-of-five collection.
Regardless of the defeat, FaZe Clan has as soon as once more confirmed that the magic remains to be there and will begin subsequent 12 months on the entrance foot if it could carry this Main momentum ahead.
