Ninjas in Pyjamas, B8 and Fnatic qualify for StarLadder Budapest Major Stage 2

Ninjas in Pyjamas, B8, and Fnatic have become the latest teams to secure a place in Stage 2 of the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025. 

The trio of teams emerged victorious in their fourth round match, advancing with a 3-1 win-to-loss record.

After Fluxo emerged as a surprise 2-0 contender, the Brazilian side faced off against a NiP team looking to return one of Counter-Strike’s iconic brands to the main stage of a Major. 

Ninjas in Pyjamas looked the superior side from the outset, scoring 13-5 wins on Nuke and Train to cement a convincing 2-0 sweep to lock in a Stage 2 place. 

For Fluxo, there’s still an opportunity to qualify for the next stage in the fifth and final round, where it must win its next best-of-three to avoid elimination.

Following an opening defeat to M80, Ukrainian organisation of B8 bounced back emphatically. Victories over The Huns Esports and Parivision set up a clash against Legacy, a team many had predicted to end Stage 1 with a 3-0 record.

A strong attacking display on Dust II secured a 16-12 overtime win, while clinical offensive strategies proved pivotal on Mirage. As a result, B8 won 13-5 to complete a 2-0 victory. 

B8 is no stranger to an upset result at a Major, having bested Team Falcons in Stage 2 of the Austin Major. With potential matchups against several former Major winners in the second stage, there’s a chance of another surprise result.

Despite a defeat to Fluxo in round two, Fnatic looked like one of the stronger Stage 1 sides after overcoming RED Canids and Imperial Esports.

The UK-based organisation began on the back foot, with NRG dominating Mirage 13-3 in the opening contest. Fnatic stepped up a gear on Inferno to level the series with a 13-10 scoreline, before rounding out the series with a 13-9 win on Dust II to complete the reverse sweep. 

Fnatic’s victory over NRG marks the first time since the 2023 Paris Major that it has featured in Stage 2 of a Major.

Following a defeat to NiP in round three, FaZe Clan found itself in a must-win scenario against RED Canids in a bid to keep its Major hopes alive. 

The Brazilians struck first on Mirage with a 13-7 win to put the Red Militia on the brink of elimination. An inspired performance from David ‘frozen’ Čerňanský on Nuke, however, kept FaZe Clan alive, scoring a 19-17 win in double overtime to force a deciding Inferno. 

With wind in its sails, FaZe Clan finally sparked into life. A superior offensive display resulted in a 13-5 win and a narrow 2-1 series victory. 

Elsewhere in the 1-2 category, Parivision battled GamerLegion for a place in round five, while Imperial Esports and The Huns Esports faced off for one last shot at Stage 2 qualification. 

Imperial Esports took the opening Nuke 13-8, but The Huns looked to answer back on Mirage. After managing to force overtime, the Brazilians held firm, taking the map 16-12 and a 2-0 series victory to send The Huns home.

After opening the Major with two straight defeats, GamerLegion continued its recent struggles after throwing away a nine-round lead on Overpass, giving Parivision a 16-14 win. 

Ancient was a much closer contest, with both sides picking up six rounds in the first half. Parivision closed in on match point with a five-round advantage, but GamerLegion reduced the deficit with some clinical attacking calls. 

Overtime was required for a second time to separate the two teams, with Parivision emerging victorious 16-12 to send GamerLegion packing.  

Following the conclusion of Stage 1’s round four matches, attention turns to round five, where the final Stage 2 teams will be decided. 

The first of three matches begins at 2 PM GMT, as six teams look to avoid an early exit.