The wait is over, and the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 is upon us. Day one is going to be a spectacle, with two full rounds of best-of-one matches in which 16 teams will try to stay afloat on Counter-Strike’s biggest stage. But with BO1s, upsets naturally come. Who will win all of the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 opening matches? Let’s take a look.
With an average age of 21.1, B8 are still an incredibly young team stacked with firepower. They arrive at the Budapest Major on the back of a decent showing at PGL Masters Bucharest 2025, and while I don’t love the change from npl to alex666 as IGL, you have to trust that they know what’s best for the team. And while M80 have won many games lately, they’ve done so against regional opposition, so it’s hard to judge where they’re really at. I haven’t been too impressed, especially compared to the solid results B8 have been showing in their limited Tier 1 experience. A fun matchup, for sure.
My prediction: B8 wins.
Imperial vs. Rare Atom is coughing baby vs. coughing baby. Two teams that I don’t expect to make it very far in the Major, but as one of my 0:3 teams in my StarLadder Budapest Major Pick’Ems, I have to say that I don’t see Rare Atom with much of a chance in this one at all. If Imperial do manage to lose this clash, then they’re in worse trouble than I thought.
My prediction: Imperial wins.
Legacy‘s Stage 1 place in the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 is deceiving. They’ve developed in recent months into a team more than capable of competing with the best teams out there, even winning a trophy at the CS Asia Championships. And while FlyQuest aren’t awful, they really shouldn’t be able to topple Legacy as they stand.
My prediction: Legacy wins.
Never bet against Jame. His PARIVISION team have grinded to make the Major, and I expect they’ll take the opportunity with both hands and make a solid run in Budapest. The Huns are a fun prospect coming into this event, but I reckon they’ll be taught a harsh lesson in their first outing. PARIVISION to win, and comfortably so.
My prediction: PARIVISION wins.
This clash is now a total freebie for Ninjas in Pyjamas. With the expected birth of nitr0’s child in the coming weeks, NRG will be playing the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 without their IGL, with coach daps filling in instead. Even without that handicap, I had pegged NIP as the winners of this NRG matchup, but the best-of-one format meant this was a potential upset on the cards. Now, though, there should only be one winner.
My prediction: Ninjas in Pyjamas wins.
GamerLegion have been incredibly inconsistent this year. Frustratingly so, when you see just how high their ceiling is. And while they have a lot of quality, Fluxo are no pushovers either, with players like decenty and Lucaozy earlier this year. As the favorites, I have to assume GamerLegion will find the way forward and get the win in their opening match, but let it go on record that Fluxo could be a real banana skin team here.
My prediction: GamerLegion wins.
Following the CYPHER drama, you’ll plenty of teams hate-watching Fnatic at the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025. I’m not here to judge that, but on its own merits, this RED Canids clash should be a total wash. While they’re not in mine, plenty of people have the Brazilians in their 0:3 Pick’Ems, and that all starts by Fnatic getting the job done. I’m not quite as keen as most on this iteration of Fnatic, but even I’d be shocked at anything but victory over an inferior RED Canids lineup.
My prediction: Fnatic wins.
It’s very hard times for FaZe at the moment, while Lynn Vision are a team that have shown in recent tournaments they can upset the odds and beat teams like 3DMAX and GamerLegion. This certainly won’t be an easy task for FaZe, and they’ll lose if they go into it too confident in their own victory. But let’s get real for a moment: quality-wise, FaZe are levels above this Lynn Vision roster. Yes, shocks can happen, but I’m backing FaZe to be quick out the gates at the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025.
My prediction: FaZe wins.
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