StarLadder has unveiled the schedule for the upcoming StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 Counter-Strike 2 event.
Before the tournament begins, the esports tournament organiser has confirmed the start times for each of the three stages and the playoffs.
In a social media post that has since been deleted, StarLadder revealed that the opening stage of the Major, taking place from November 24th to 27th, begins with the first two rounds of matches from 1 PM CET (12 PM GMT). The remaining three rounds of Stage 1 start at 3 PM CET (2PM CET).
The 1 PM CET start time will feature for all three stages of the tournament, which ends on December 12th.
For the playoffs, the quarter-finals and semi-finals kick off at 5 PM CET (4 PM GMT), while the Grand Final begins at 6 PM CET (5 PM GMT).
The Budapest Major marks a new chapter for Counter-Strike’s tentpole tournaments. Starting with Budapest, all future Grand Finals will use a best-of-five series to determine the event’s champion.
StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 Format
The Budapest Major follows the same format used for the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025, with 32 teams from across the world competing across four stages.
After five best-of-one matches, the top eight teams from Stage 1 move on to Stage 2. The top eight Stage 2 teams earn a place in Stage 3, while the top Stage 3 teams secure a place in the Playoffs.
The Playoffs are contested using a single-elimination bracket, with the quarter-finals and semi-finals using a best-of-three series. The two remaining teams will then compete for championship glory over a best-of-five.
For Counter-Strike’s large European community, the timings of the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 make for comfortable viewing throughout the afternoon and evening. The later start times also enable viewers from North America and Asia to watch the action.
