FaZe set up NAVI clash in StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 Semi-Finals

FaZe and NAVI have ensured they’ll meet in the Semi-Finals of the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025, beating MOUZ and FURIA in a day comprised of upsets. Although the bigger names won on the day, it was still shocking to see the more in-form teams drop out in this fashion. That’s the magic of the Major.

FaZe continue resurgence to surprise MOUZ

The first match of the day saw FaZe take on MOUZ, a clash where the latter were heavily favored to progress to the Semis of the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025. FaZe were coming into this match after a hot Stage 3, but their chances would hinge on the continued resurgence of jcobbb and broky following them into this series.

It started out on Nuke, where the first half suggested one-way traffic in FaZe’s favor. And despite hometown hero torzsi being on the other side of the server, it felt as though the crowd were actually in support of FaZe. A 9:3 half was the perfect start, suggesting a quick map one. But MOUZ pulled it all the way back, eventually managing to take an 11:9 lead. It felt as though FaZe had squandered their opportunity to take the map, but they eventually found the answers they were looking for at the perfect time. FaZe finally got the job done 13:11, just managing to avoid overtime.

Inferno was MOUZ’s pick in the series, a great opportunity to level things up. Yet the truth is that they never really got started, while FaZe barely left first or second gear to emerge victorious. A 10:2 CT side for FaZe put this well beyond MOUZ’s reach, and they swiftly dumped them from the competition in 13:2 fashion. A FaZe win was surprising enough, but to do so 2:0 is beyond impressive. The intangible FaZe magic stays alive and kicking.

Post-match, we had the opportunity to catch up with MOUZ AWPer torzsi to get his thoughts about what went wrong in that Inferno.

torzsi: I think the struggle on T side definitely was not sacrificing for each other. Let’s say there is a round where we kill one in Apps and we are not reacting instantly, or we were just really slow sometimes, you know? On some B executes, we are failing utility or missing flashes, and it cannot happen on a stage like this, in a Major Quarter-Final. Yeah, we were just slow and not playing together, I would say.

FaZe will now face NAVI for a spot in the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025. Two sleeping giants of the game with a historic rivalry. Yet, despite disappointing years individually, one is guaranteed to make it to the Major Final.

NAVI eliminate favorites FURIA in biggest Major shock yet

NAVI emerged as shock victors over tournament favorites FURIA to lock in a Semi-Final berth at the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025. In terms of upsets, this has to be among the tournament’s biggest, denying FalleN his chance at a first Major win in nine years.

NAVI‘s pick of Mirage was a flex of the individual level at the Major. Some of NAVI’s kills were pretty insane, and they managed to take a commanding lead pretty early on. The organized FURIA we’ve seen in recent months was nowhere to be seen, and they were having a miserable time dealing with NAVI’s T side. They didn’t fare much better on the other side, either – the final score ended 13:5, and FURIA would need a reverse sweep to keep the StarLadder Budapest Major dream alive.

Inferno started as a caution against skipping steps for FURIA. Usually so meticulous in all their movements, it felt as though they’d grown complacent over their form in recent months. On the other side, NAVI looked comfortable, and ran out to a convincing 10:3 lead. But FURIA, resilient as ever, fought all the way back to an 11:10 lead, spearheaded by a remarkable FalleN 1v3 clutch that set to set them up for success in the map. They carried that momentum into an eventual overtime, which they took in a 16:13 finish.

PRESENTE, PROFESSOR!!!@FalleNCS | #BudapestMajOR pic.twitter.com/Gb7FW62Cql

— StarLadder CS2 (@StarLadder_CS) December 12, 2025

It felt as though FURIA had acquired the momentum required to win the series. And after map two, it felt like destiny. The decider was Train, a map FURIA won 13:1 the last time these two teams faced on it. But NAVI were near-perfect at every turn, putting together a dream T side to completely remove any illusion of competition from the series. There would be no repeat of Inferno, no miracle comeback. NAVI were not going to let this one slip twice in as many maps. Instead, we got a swift 13:3 finish, with makazze putting on a coming-of-age performance on Counter-Strike’s biggest stage.

It helps if you hit your shots, too. FURIA, usually so clinical, were man-for-man worse in every aspect on maps one and three. A difficult day at the office. The most basic of analysis will tell you that kills FURIA were getting just a week ago in Stage 3, they were missing here in the Quarter-Finals. Uncharacteristic off days for molodoy and YEKINDAR essentially condemned FURIA to their fate, and the Major favorites were sent packing, albeit with more of a fight than it seemed to be shaping up for.