StarLadder Budapest Major 2025: Full Event Breakdown and xplay.gg Named Official Partner

The StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 will conclude this Counter-Strike 2 season. Most of the teams have spent the entire year preparing for this one moment. Running from November 24 to December 14, the tournament features a $1.25 million prize pool, but for many teams, the money is secondary – the real reward is proving they are the best in the world.

FURIA and Vitality enter Budapest as the leading contenders based on their performances throughout the year. Still, with a field this deep and pressure at an all-time high, upsets are inevitable. Majors have a way of humbling favorites and elevating underdogs, and this one will be no different.

xplay.gg Named the Official Partner of the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025

xplay.gg, the leading European Counter-Strike training server network, has partnered with StarLadder as an official training infrastructure provider for the Budapest Major 2025. The platform offers Retake, Deathmatch, BHOP, Surf, and fully customizable personal matches that let players set maps, modes, and economy rules for realistic practice.

Founded in 2021, xplay.gg has over 5 million users and operates 30+ European server locations, ensuring low-latency, stable training environments. Its proprietary FPS Boost technology can increase performance by up to 200% FPS, helping players train more efficiently at every skill level.

Media Contacts:
For media inquiries, interviews, or additional comments, representatives from xplay.gg and StarLadder are available:

• xplay.gg Marketing Department: [email protected]
• StarLadder Press Contact: [email protected]

StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 Format & Key Dates

The event features three Swiss stages followed by a single-elimination playoff bracket.

Stage 1 — November 24–27

• 16-team Swiss System
• Elimination & advancement matches: Bo3
• All other matches: Bo1
• Top 8 advance to Stage 2
• Bottom 8 are eliminated

Stage 2 — November 29–December 2

• 16-team Swiss System
• Elimination & advancement matches: Bo3
• All other matches: Bo1
• Top 8 advance to Stage 3
• Bottom 8 are eliminated

Stage 3 — December 4–7

• 16-team Swiss System
• Elimination & advancement matches: Bo3
• All other matches: Bo1
• Top 8 advance to the playoffs
• Bottom 8 are eliminated

Playoffs — December 11–14

• Single-elimination bracket
• All matches except the Grand Final: Bo3
• Grand Final: Bo5

StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 Teams

Stage 3 Invited Teams

Stage 2 Invited Teams

Stage 1 Invited Teams

StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 Stage 1 Favorites & Underdogs

Favorites to Advance to Stage 2

Among the Stage 1 competitors, FaZe, Legacy, GamerLegion, and B8 stand out as favorites, being the most likely to progress to the next stage. All four are currently ranked inside the top 20 and have shown a consistent level of play throughout the season.

Dark Horses

Several teams could disrupt expectations:

• PARIVISION
• fnatic
• Ninjas in Pyjamas
• Lynn Vision
• M80

PARIVISION, fnatic, and Ninjas in Pyjamas all field veterans with Major experience and championship pedigrees-an invaluable asset in a high-pressure Swiss format. Lynn Vision and M80, meanwhile, have recorded respectable results against top European opposition this year, and both have the potential to steal one of the eight qualifying spots.

Underdogs

The remaining teams in Stage 1 face a steeper climb:

• The Huns, Rare Atom, and RED Canids all sit outside the top 60 and have limited exposure to top-tier playoff play.
• Imperial, FlyQuest, NRG, and Fluxo possess players with significant big-stage experience, but none have found consistent form this season. If there was ever a time for these lineups to rediscover their peak, it’s at the Major – they’ll need their absolute best to survive Stage 1.

StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 Stage 1 Opening Matches Schedule

November 24

• B8 vs. M80 and Imperial vs. Rare Atom starting at 14:00 CET
• Legacy vs. FlyQuest and PARIVISION vs. The Huns starting at 15:00 CET
• Ninjas in Pyjamas vs. NRG and GamerLegion vs. Fluxo starting at 16:00 CET
• fnatic vs. RED Canids and FaZe vs. Lynn Vision starting at 17:00 CET

How to Watch StarLadder Budapest Major 2025

Fans around the world can follow every StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 match live, whether at home, at work, or on the go. All matches will be streamed on the official broadcast channels, with additional coverage provided by partner platforms and regional streams.

• StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 Official Twitch Stream
• StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 Official YouTube Stream
• StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 Official K1CK  Stream

A Major That Will Define the Season

With star-studded lineups, dangerous dark horses, and a format built for upsets, the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 has all the ingredients of a classic. Every match carries weight, every round shapes a legacy, and only one team will rise above the chaos.

As the season’s final and most important event, Budapest will define champions, break hearts, and deliver the kind of Counter-Strike that reminds fans why Majors matter.