FaZe Clan have pulled off one of the most unexpected Major runs of the year. After a shaky start that nearly saw them eliminated early, FaZe battled back through adversity at the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 and booked their spot in the semi-finals with a convincing 2-0 victory over MOUZ in the quarter-finals.
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A Rollercoaster Tournament for FaZe
Coming into the Major, FaZe looked far from the dominant force many expected. They struggled in Stage 1, posting underwhelming results and flirting with elimination before ultimately surviving. But from the brink, they began to rebuild momentum, edging out Vitality 13-7 in a shock upset early on and earning key wins to stabilize their position.
Once in the playoffs, FaZe’s momentum only accelerated.
Quarter-final Crush: FaZe vs. MOUZ
In the quarter-final matchup against MOUZ, a team many analysts favoured based on head-to-head form and recent results, FaZe delivered a statement performance:
- Nuke: FaZe seized control early, racing to a 9-3 lead before MOUZ stormed back. However, FaZe finished strong to secure a 13-11 win in a tightly contested opening map.
- Inferno: FaZe dominated from start to finish, winning 13-2 and leaving little doubt about their intent.
The straight-set victory not only overwhelmed MOUZ but also signaled that FaZe are very much alive in this Major.
Broky Rewrites the Narrative
Much of FaZe’s resurgence can be credited to Helvijs “broky” Saukants. Once criticized for poor form earlier in the event, broky erupted against MOUZ with a standout performance, posting a massive 1.62 rating, one of the highest of the quarter-finals, including a huge impact on Inferno.
This performance marked a dramatic turnaround for a player whose Major had been defined by inconsistency up to this point, and adds weight to the narrative of his personal resurgence across the tournament.
What This Means Moving Forward
With this win, FaZe now find themselves just two victories away from Major glory, a position few would have predicted after their early struggles. Their semifinal opponent will come from FURIA vs. Natus Vincere, setting up a tantalizing clash with one of CS2’s elite teams.
For a squad that once teetered on elimination, FaZe’s run to the StarLadder Budapest Major semi-finals is one of 2025’s most compelling stories, fueled by resilience, clutch moments, and broky’s resurgence under pressure.
