StarLadder Budapest Main 2025: All Stage 2 groups

After a gap stage full of shock outcomes, the groups competing at Stage 2 of the StarLadder Budapest Main 2025 are set. 

Amongst a few of Counter-Strike’s established names, a number of underdogs emerged from Stage 1 whereas established names fell on the first hurdle.

Earlier than the second stage of Counter-Strike’s season-ending match begins, Esports Insider takes a have a look at the following batch of groups competing within the Hungarian capital.

Stage 2 of the Budapest Main follows the identical Swiss stage format as the primary stage, with 16 groups battling it out to safe three victories over 5 rounds. 

Groups that earn three wins guide a spot in Stage 3, whereas people who don’t are eradicated from the match.

At present ranked fifth within the Valve Regional Standings (VRS), the Turkish roster of Aurora Gaming heads into the Main after hitting a purple patch. Victory at PGL Masters Bucharest 2025 was the crew’s first notable LAN victory, laying the foundations for a doubtlessly robust finish to 2025.

Aurora Gaming begins Stage 2 in opposition to an M80 facet that has carried out effectively to this point.

One place behind Aurora Gaming within the world standings is NAVI, one other crew that has proven glimpses of potential in high-profile tournaments. In September, the Ukrainian organisation swept apart Ninjas in Pyjamas to win StarLadder StarSeries Fall 2025, sparking an upward flip of kind.  

Regardless of falling sufferer to a reverse sweep by the hands of FURIA on the Thunderpick World Championship 2025, NAVI is among the many European sides anticipated to advance. The crew takes on FlyQuest in its opening Stage 2 match.

2025 has been a yr of turbulence for Workforce Liquid, leading to the departure of Russel ‘Twistzz’ Van Dulken and the return of Jonathan ‘ELiGE’ Jablonowski. A top-four end at FISSURE Playground 2 and a top-eight at PGL Masters Bucharest 2025 noticed a roster full of expertise present indicators of life as soon as once more. 

After bowing out of the Austin Main with a high 16 placement, Budapest acts as a chance for an inconsistent Workforce Liquid to finish the yr on a excessive observe, constructing some early momentum for 2026.

Workforce Liquid opens its Stage 2 marketing campaign in opposition to B8. The Ukrainian facet certified for the second part with a 3-1 file, taking wins over Parivision and Legacy. 

3DMAX seems to be to revive French Counter-Strike’s hopes with a robust displaying in Budapest. A top-16 end at IEM Chengdu 2025 is the organisation’s most up-to-date Tier 1 look, shedding to Lynn Imaginative and prescient Gaming within the Group Stage.

Second place on the CS Asia Championship 2025 demonstrated the wealth of expertise possessed by the all-French roster. If 3DMAX seems to be to advance additional than Stage 2, the expertise shall be known as upon as soon as once more because it takes on Fnatic in spherical one.

For the primary time in three years, Astralis returns to the Main stage after managing to cement itself as a crew armed with the capabilities to make an affect in Stage 2. After efficiently navigating its approach via the IEM Chengdu group stage, the Danish facet even managed to take a map off Workforce Vitality earlier than scoring a top-six end.

Two second locations at PGL Astana 2025 and FISSURE Playground 1 stay the highlights of Astralis’ season. With promising showings in opposition to the heavy hitters, Astralis has the instruments required to make a deep run.

Astralis takes on Ninjas in Pyjamas in its opening match, with each groups seeking to return to former glory.

2025 has been a yr of development for Chinese language Counter-Strike on the worldwide stage. Spearheaded by TYLOO, the crew skyrocketed up the VRS, reaching a excessive of ninth in August.

TYLOO struck gold at FISSURE Playground 1, profitable the match with coach Zhong ‘zhokiNg’ Weijie appearing as a short lived stand-in for AWPer Ji ‘Jee’ Dongkai. Since victory in July, the Chinese language facet has struggled to search out its footing in top-tier tournaments. 

Failure to qualify for the Chengdu playoffs, together with lacking out on an enviornment look at BLAST Rivals Fall 2025, TYLOO head into the Main seeking to rekindle the shape that noticed it seize the eye of Counter-Strike followers the world over.

TYLOO faces off in opposition to Parivision in spherical one in every of Stage 2.

In a bid to search out success, MIBR has transitioned away from an all-Brazilian roster in favour of a world crew. In August and September, the organisation recruited Klimentiy ‘kl1m’ Krivosheev and Aleksei ‘Qikert’ Golubev on mortgage offers with the intention of constructing on a high 20 end on the Austin Main. 

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

In worldwide competitors, MIBR hasn’t discovered kind simply but and heads to Budapest on the again of a high 16 end at PGL Masters Bucharest 2025. The Main has already seen the likes of RED Canids and Fluxo spring surprises, and there’s each likelihood MIBR is able to shocking its opponents.

The Brazilian organisation battles a well-known opponent within the type of Imperial Esports in Stage 2’s first spherical.

Following the demise of Complexity’s Counter-Strike division, Ukrainian organisation Ardour UA stepped in and purchased the core, giving it a stable platform inside the VRS system.

Whereas the crew has restricted Tier 1 appearances in 2025, Ardour UA has discovered success in Tier 2 and Tier 3 tournaments, profitable City Riga Open #1 and scoring a third-place end at DraculaN #3.

After a high 20 placement on the Good World Shanghai Main in late 2024, it will likely be attention-grabbing to see if the brand new roster can obtain a greater end result in opposition to some stiff competitors.

Ardour UA faces an uphill problem in Stage 2, because it takes on a FaZe Clan facet that narrowly prevented elimination in Stage 1.

FlyQuest headed into the Main beneath the radar as Australia’s sole consultant on the occasion. Whereas it has proven indicators of life in regional tournaments, the crew has struggled to translate its kind onto the worldwide stage.

The crew managed to spring an enormous shock within the opening stage, profitable all three of its matches to earn a spot in Stage 2.

FlyQuest possesses the standard wanted to proceed its robust Main marketing campaign, even with the calibre of groups shifting up a gear. Advancing from Stage 2 is a difficult activity, however there’s potential for it to maintain momentum rolling if it will probably overcome NAVI within the first spherical.

North American Counter-Strike usually struggles to make an affect inside the Tier 1 scene, however M80 seems to be to vary issues with a continuation of its flawless Stage 1 efficiency. 

Victories over B8, Imperial Esports, and Fluxo cemented its place in Stage 2. M80 is not any stranger to the second part of a Main, having began the Austin Main ready to make Stage 3. The earlier Main noticed M80 rating a solitary win over OG Esports and three defeats, ending its match. 

Stage 2 in Budapest permits M80 to construct on the Stage 1 momentum and safe its place as North America’s high Counter-Strike crew. It begins its Stage 2 marketing campaign in opposition to Aurora Gaming within the opening spherical.  

For the primary time in two years, Ninjas in Pyjamas has returned to a Counter-Strike Main. Regardless of starting Stage 1 with a defeat to NRG, the crew responded emphatically, with three consecutive wins over Lynn Imaginative and prescient Gaming, FaZe Clan, and Fluxo to earn a spot in Stage 2.

Whereas its current kind has proven it will probably compete in opposition to Europe’s high groups, a top-16 end at PGL Masters Bucharest 2025 exhibits there’s nonetheless work to do to ensure that the Ninjas to be thought-about a high crew as soon as once more. 

Ninjas in Pyjamas kicks off Stage 2 with a Scandinavian conflict in opposition to Astralis.

B8 is amongst a number of groups that flew beneath the radar throughout Stage 1 in Budapest. Stable showings over The Huns Esports, Parivision, and Legacy earned the crew a spot within the subsequent stage, together with a chance to enhance on its Austin Main efficiency. 

The earlier Main noticed the Ukrainians narrowly miss out on Stage 3 regardless of taking down Workforce Falcons and HEROIC.

B8 has an opportunity to begin Stage 2 on the entrance foot in opposition to a Workforce Liquid that’s but to fireplace on all cylinders.    

Fnatic continues its journey again in direction of the top of Counter-Strike esports. The Fragadelphia Blocktober champions opted for a late roster change earlier than the match, and to this point, it has confirmed fruitful.

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

There have been events the place Fnatic’s crew play has confirmed extremely efficient. A battle in opposition to 3DMAX in spherical one in every of Stage 2 might show to be a extremely aggressive match.

In opposition to all odds, FaZe Clan took the longest route out of Stage 1, profitable its three remaining video games and getting back from the brink of elimination on a number of events.

Having overcome RED Canids and Fluxo by the narrowest of margins, it’s clear that the crew is but to take it up a gear. If the crew struggles within the early rounds for a second time, it’s unclear if the Crimson Militia will make it via as stronger groups enter the fray. 

With the Swiss stage now reset, FaZe Clan faces off in opposition to Ardour UA in spherical one.

Just like FaZe Clan, the Brazilian facet of Imperial Esports additionally required all 5 rounds to earn its place in Stage 2 within the Hungarian capital. 

Losses to FlyQuest and Fnatic put the crew on the again foot, however 2-0 sweeps of The Huns Esports and NRG wrapped up a gap stage with some glorious defensive shows. 

The highway to Stage 3 begins with an all-Brazilian conflict in opposition to MIBR. The 2 sides met at FERJEE Rush in September, with MIBR rising victorious in a hotly contested Grand Closing.  

The sixteenth and remaining crew competing in Stage 2 of the Budapest is Parivision, which demonstrated unbelievable composure to beat Legacy in its fifth spherical tie.

Heading into the Main recent from victory in ESL Challenger League, the Serbian organisation dug deep in opposition to the Brazilians in an exhilarating double time beyond regulation Mud II decider to safe its place within the subsequent stage. 

Dzhami ‘Jame’ Ali has discovered his footing alongside the 4 Main rookies, who proceed to realize helpful expertise that’s going to show essential because the match progresses. The crew begins Stage 2 in opposition to FISSURE Playground 1 champions TYLOO.