Team Vitality secured their place in the playoffs of the StarLadder Budapest Major by edging out Natus Vincere 2-0 in a tense Swiss-stage decider. The maps finished with identical 13–11 scores – Inferno followed by Train.
With this result, Vitality has now qualified for the Major playoffs five times in a row: Paris 2023, Copenhagen 2024, Shanghai 2024, Austin 2025, and now Budapest 2025.
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Match Recap – How Vitality Closed It Out
Inferno
Vitality survived a rough start, but a clutch 1-vs-2 from Drin “makazze” Shaqiri helped them find footing. A late-round push down Middle in regulation ultimately sealed the map, despite NAVI’s momentum and individual efforts from Ihor “w0nderful” Zhdanov.
Train
NAVI’s map pick remained tightly contested from start to finish, with neither team able to build a comfortable lead. Ihor “w0nderful” Zhdanov delivered one of the standout individual performances of the match, posting a 1.43 rating and repeatedly keeping NAVI within striking distance.
Vitality, however, found the defining moments. Robin “ropz” Kool’s pivotal 1-vs-3 clutch shifted the momentum, and a well-timed force-buy execute onto the A site pushed them over the line. Those sequences allowed Vitality to close the map 13-11 and secure the series win without needing overtime.
Despite w0nderful’s star-level output, it was Vitality’s structure and composure in high-pressure rounds that ultimately proved decisive.
Impact on Both Sides: Vitality Advance, NAVI Under Pressure
Vitality’s qualification keeps their position as one of the most consistent teams in modern Counter-Strike 2. Their fifth consecutive Major playoff appearance highlights a level of stability that only a few teams can maintain through roster moves and increasingly competitive fields. Their ability to secure both maps in such fashion also underlines their resilience – a key advantage as the competition now moves into the elimination stage.
For NAVI, the defeat exposes recurring issues. While individual brilliance kept them competitive, their inability to close out the most crucial rounds continues to be what holds them back from winning against the best teams. Entering the final stages of the Swiss format, they now face a route with no mistakes allowed.
