The scene is set for Counter-Strike 2‘s most anticipated tournament. Having now passed the October 6 VRS deadline, the full 32-team roster of the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 has officially been finalized, crowning the conclusion of one of the most thrilling qualification battles in CS2 history.
The $1.25 million competition will take place over three stages between November 24 and December 14, with the star-studded playoffs played at Budapest’s 20,000-seat MVM Dome from December 11-14.
The last few weeks leading up to the deadline became an unprecedented worldwide dash, with squads flying across continents to gain valuable VRS points. Among them were some amazing qualification tales from this frantic finale.
Maybe the most thrilling tale is that of fnatic, who beat seemingly impossible odds. With only a 2.9% qualification opportunity as of September 29, the Swedish squad took a transatlantic shot, flying to Philadelphia for Fragadelphia Blocktober. Their 3-2 win over 9INE in the grand final not only brought them the tournament title but also secured the final European Major invite.
The CIS region also had its own thriller as PARIVISION overpowered BetBoom at the Majestic LanDaLan tournament held in Moscow, winning the remaining available CIS spot on the strength of better play on home turf.
South America’s qualification fight came to a fever pitch at Circuit X South America Season 1 in Curitiba, where RED Canids and Fluxo both posted deep playoff runs to earn their Major debut. These results were the turning point in a region where every VRS point counted.
StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 Roster Announced
- Stage 1 – Opening Stage (8 Teams Advance)
- Sixteen teams compete for eight slots to advance: FaZe Clan, GamerLegion, Ninjas in Pyjamas, B8, PARIVISION, fnatic, Legacy, Imperial Esports, NRG, M80, Fluxo, RED Canids, Lynn Vision, The Huns, FlyQuest, and Rare Atom.
- Stage 2 – Contenders Stage (8 Teams Advance)
- Eight teams combine with eight qualifiers from Stage 1: Aurora, Natus Vincere, Astralis, 3DMAX, Team Liquid, MIBR, Passion UA, and TYLOO.
- Stage 3 – Legends Stage (Direct to Final 8)
- The top division has eight teams with direct promotion to the final stage: Vitality, Team Spirit, Falcons, MOUZ, G2 Esports, FURIA, paiN Gaming, and The MongolZ.
The final list boasts strong stories across the board. Three teams make their Major debuts: RED Canids, PARIVISION, and The Huns, the new faces in Counter-Strike.
At the same time, legendary teams achieve their projected returns. Ninjas in Pyjamas and Astralis return to the grandest stage after long hiatuses, bringing star power to an already crowded fray.
The qualification process has provided enormous regional representation, with Europe securing 13 slots, the Americas picking up 10, and the Asia-Pacific region receiving 9. This breakdown demonstrates Counter-Strike 2’s genuinely global competitive scene.
The Major uses Swiss system formatting for Stages 1 and 2, with best-of-one matches until elimination, with advanced games turning to best-of-three. Stage 3 and playoffs use only best-of-three matches, ending with the championship final.
The $1.25 million prize pool pays out $500,000 to the winner, with deep payouts spread throughout the field to ensure a good reward for all qualifying teams.