Workforce Liquid, Ardour UA and 3DMAX have change into the ultimate groups to earn a spot in Stage 3 of the StarLadder Budapest Main 2025.
The three groups efficiently navigated their means by means of their respective fifth-round matches to advance to the ultimate Stage of Counter-Strike’s season-ending event.
Workforce Liquid Sweeps Astralis
After each groups started Stage 2 with two defeats, Workforce Liquid and Astralis battled again to earn one ultimate shot at qualifying for Stage 3.
Workforce Liquid opened proceedings with a dominant first half on Nuke, taking a ten-round lead into the second half. The Danes mounted a comeback within the second half, however Liquid held agency, taking the opening map 13-7.
A stable defence within the second half of Mirage made the distinction, with Workforce Liquid taking a 13-9 win to cement a 2-0 sweep, bringing Astralis’ first Main since 2022 to an finish.
Ardour UA Turns into North America’s Final Hope
Following a profitable Stage 2 marketing campaign, Ardour UA sought to take care of its momentum in an all-American conflict in opposition to M80. M80 opened Mirage with a 13-11 win, needing yet one more win within the best-of-three to stay within the event.
Ardour UA responded with a dominant attacking exhibiting on Inferno, profitable the map 13-5 to degree the collection and take it to Prepare. The former Complexity core confirmed its expertise in attacking and defensive eventualities, securing the map with a 13-7 scoreline and a 2-1 collection victory to ship M80 residence.
Ardour UA turns into the third workforce from the Americas competing in Stage 3. With heavy hitters equivalent to FURIA and Workforce Vitality coming into the fray, will probably be attention-grabbing to see whether or not the workforce can preserve the ball rolling.
3DMAX Halts Ninjas in Pyjamas
Having began Stage 2 with two victories, Ninjas in Pyjamas struggled to shut out the Swiss stage with consecutive defeats to FaZe Clan and Parivision, sending the workforce into spherical 5 in opposition to a 3DMAX aspect trying to return the French flag to the latter levels of a Main.
The French roster dominated Historic from the outset, profitable ten rounds within the first half to construct an enormous lead. 3DMAX rounded off the primary map with three offensive spherical wins, taking the map 13-3 for the early collection lead.
Prepare was a a lot nearer contest. Ninjas in Pyjamas ended the primary half with a slender two-round benefit, however the French firepower proved superior, taking eight defensive rounds within the second half to overturn the deficit and win 13-8, finishing a convincing 2-0 sweep.
What’s Subsequent on the Budapest Main?
With Stage 2 of the Budapest Main concluded, the main focus turns to Stage 3, the place eight new groups be part of the eight qualifiers from Stage 2 for an additional five-round Swiss stage.
The highest eight groups from Stage 3 will advance to the Playoffs, incomes a chance to compete on Counter-Strike’s largest stage.
