StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 Day 4: FaZe, Imperial, and PARIVISION reach Stage 2 at final hurdle

The curtain has drawn on Stage 1 of the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025, with eight teams now locked in for Stage 2 in a couple of days’ time. On the other side of the coin, eight teams have already had their dreams shattered and been subjected to that bizarre post-match humiliation ritual by StarLadder.

Today was the final chance for six teams to make it to Stage 2. Three slots on the line, and just that pesky final hurdle to overcome. In last-chance saloon is where the nerves are highest. Here’s how FaZe, Imperial, and PARIVISION became those teams who had it in them to beat the nerves and secure a Stage 2 berth at the Budapest Major.

FaZe make another comeback to survive Fluxo scare

The first game of the day always had the potential to be the most nervy, on account of both teams. Fluxo, after going 2:0 on day one, were in danger of completing the anti-reverse-sweep, while FaZe, having arrived in Stage 1 of the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 among the favorites to progress, had pride on the line here.

When FaZe won a comfortable map one, it felt as though all was going to be okay. Smooth sailing. But FaZe’s ugly gameplay reared its head on map two, allowing Fluxo to take a map in the series. Map three, and all the marbles to play for. And against the odds, Fluxo managed to roar to a 10:4 lead. FaZe, like yesterday against RED Canids, were once again on the verge of elimination.

I don’t know what it is about FaZe that causes a switch to flick when things seem their most dire. But from that point onwards, FaZe did not lose a single round en route to a 13:10 win, including a 2v4 featuring karrigan and broky to close it out. Stage 2 was secure, but there’s an argument to be made that putting this time out of its misery might’ve been the best thing for everyone involved.

Regardless, another series in which FaZe go life and death with an inferior team is not exactly cause for celebration. It’s important they beat Fluxo when all was said and done, but do not mistake that with it being impressive. Anything less than their best selves will see a very quick Stage 2 exit for FaZe at the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025.

Imperial dominant over limp NRG

Next up was Imperial vs. NRG, a match that officially saw us safe in the first round of our StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 Pick’Ems. NRG were like Fluxo, in that they fell all the way from that 2:0 bracket to find themselves needing a win on the final day of Stage 1. It would have been a dream story to make it through to Stage 2 with daps as the stand-in, but winning a best-of-three was just too far an ask as they fell at the final hurdle.

On previous days, NRG have at least been able to make their losses look competitive. But here against Imperial, though, it looked as though the four days of action had finally caught up with them. It was a pretty quick 2:0 in the end, with great showings from noway and VINI in particular. The Brazilians were simply too sharp, with too much firepower, and NRG would need more than a few tricks up their sleeve to have ever stood a chance.

PARIVISION finally get over the line against disappointing Legacy

Prior to the start of StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 Stage 1, Legacy vs. PARIVISION was a clash I’d have expected to see in the 2:0 matchup rather than the 2:2 one. But alas, both teams have struggled in this Major so far, and we are where we are. That quality was on full display here, as both teams offered up a series with twists and turns until the very last.

PARIVISION opened up the series with a map win on Ancient, leaving the Brazilians of Legacy in the disaster zone. Remember, Legacy were, like FaZe, almost everybody’s 3:0 pick for Stage 1, and here they were on the brink of elimination. But there’s a reason they’re so highly rated, and they swiftly put together a solid 13:5 win on Inferno to tie up the series.

Map three here was Dust2, a map PARIVISION hadn’t played in two months. For context, since the last time Jame’s team played Dust2, Legacy have played it 14 times. There should’ve been only one winner, and with an 11:5 lead, it looked as though Legacy had it all wrapped up. But this is Jame leading a young Russian stack at a Major, and you’d be silly to count them out with his record. PARIVISION eventually fought back to Overtime. They thought it was so nice, they needed to do it twice. Double OT needed, with Legacy throwing away yet another map point to get PARIVISION out of there.

From that point on, PARIVISION looked like a different team. OT1, they were a bag of nerves. But OT2? Dominant. They dispatched Legacy 19:16, giving the Brazilians their most disappointing finish in a long time after a period of excitement surrounding the team.

The eight teams heading to the next Stage of the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 from Stage 1 are as follows:

• M80 (3:0)
• FlyQuest (3:0)
• Ninjas in Pyjamas (3:1)
• B8 (3:1)
• Fnatic (3:1)
• FaZe Clan (3:2)
• Imperial (3:2)
• PARIVISION (3:2)