The intense excitement of the 2025 StarLadder Budapest Major electrified the MVM Dome in Hungary as Team Spirit and Team Vitality captured the spotlight by advancing to the semi-finals. On the thrilling opening day of the playoffs, these two formidable teams showcased their prowess by triumphing over Team Falcons and The MongolZ, respectively.
Team Spirit Clips Team Falcons’ Wings
Team Spirit stepped onto the stage with confidence after clearing Stage 3 with ease. Their first opponent, Team Falcons, had been gaining momentum in recent months, but Team Spirit was undeterred. The match began with Team Spirit’s pick of Nuke, where Ivan ‘zweih’ Gogin delivered a spectacular performance, dominating the scoreboard. His four headshots in round eight and an ace in round 12 sealed the deal, putting Team Falcons on the back foot. Five consecutive wins in the second half swiftly secured a 13-4 advantage for Team Spirit, bringing them tantalizingly close to the semi-finals.
Despite this initial setback, Team Falcons regrouped for a strong defense on Dust II, taking a two-round lead. However, the relentless pressure from Team Spirit, driven by another critical ace from zweih, forced the match into overtime. With momentum firmly on their side, Team Spirit clinched a 16-12 victory and a 2-0 sweep, sending Team Falcons home with a top-eight finish.
Team Vitality Dominates The MongolZ
Meanwhile, Team Vitality showcased their dominance over The MongolZ, despite the latter having a temporary stand-in. This match was a rematch from the BLAST.tv Austin Major Grand Final, and The MongolZ started strong, taking the first three rounds on Mirage. Yet, the synergy between William ‘Mezii’ Merriman and Mathieu ‘ZywOo’ Herbaut propelled Team Vitality forward. ZywOo’s exquisite sniping skills were instrumental, allowing Vitality to capture five consecutive rounds and secure a 13-5 victory on The MongolZ’s pick.
ZywOo continued his stellar performance into Dust II, driving Team Vitality to an 8-4 halftime lead. The MongolZ struggled to keep pace, and Team Vitality’s unyielding attack culminated in another 13-5 win, marking a decisive 2-0 sweep. Team Spirit and Team Vitality have advanced to the semi-finals of the 2025 StarLadder Budapest Major.
What’s Next?
With the first quarter-final matches concluded, focus shifts to the remaining matches to determine the last two teams in the semi-finals. MOUZ is slated to take on FaZe Clan on December 12th, while NAVI will go head-to-head with FURIA. The excitement continues as Team Spirit and Team Vitality prepare to clash in the first semi-final on December 13th.