Best moments and plays from StarLadder Budapest Major Stage 1

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The first round of matches delivered some incredible plays and exciting moments. We’ve put together a few highlights to get you hyped for the rest of the tournament and encourage you to check out Counter-Strike!

The first stage of the StarLadder Budapest Major was full of exciting Counter-Strike matches. From incredible plays like Karrigan’s clutch win to Saadzin’s unbelievable shots, the initial Swiss rounds proved why CS2 is known for its unpredictable nature. Check out the best moments from Stage 1 of the StarLadder Budapest Major.

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The Huns barely see xIELO’s impressive ace coming

Everyone thought PARIVISION would easily defeat The Huns. But it was still remarkable that a new player performed so well, achieving a 1.91 rating in their first major event. A key moment came in the second half when xIELO’s skillful play, featuring quick and accurate headshots, turned a typical attack into a powerful advantage. From The Huns’ perspective, they simply couldn’t stop xIELO’s momentum.

Starry cracks four heads with his Deagle

Lynn Vision had a tough start at the StarLadder Budapest Major, facing off against FaZe Clan in their first match. While FaZe’s frozen and Twistzz were playing exceptionally well, Lynn Vision’s Starry still managed a standout moment. He pulled off an impressive series of four headshots with the Deagle, reminding FaZe Clan – and everyone else – of the skill coming from Asian Counter-Strike teams.

saadzin’s magical wall bangs

These incredible clips showcase a player named saadzin’s amazing skill with the AWP sniper rifle. They achieved not one, but two impressive four-kill plays, even shooting through walls to change the outcome of the rounds. The play on the Train map especially left the FlyQuest team completely surprised.

“Freddy Johansson keeps the game going” — KRIMZ’s ace for overtime

RED Canids had a clear advantage and were on the verge of winning against fnatic. However, KRIMZ, playing with his signature AK-47, stepped up and prevented that outcome. He secured five key kills to force the game into overtime, and this clip captures one of the best moments from Stage 1 of the Budapest Major 2025.

Jame remains the master of the clock

Okay, so Jame is seriously something else. Everyone knows he’s been messing around with crazy strategies, but his timing is just unreal. In our match against GamerLegion on Ancient, they tried this super-late bomb plant, thinking they had us, but Jame was right there to clutch the round! He killed the guy planting and got out of there, securing a round we really shouldn’t have won. Honestly, his game sense and ability to manage the clock are just unmatched.

But he can also turn the heat up

Jame is famous for his clever use of time in matches, but he’s also a highly skilled AWPer who’s proven he can win major championships. That means when needed, like during this defense on A-site against B8, he can quickly get four kills in a row.

Jambo clutches it out with a triple

Honestly, NRG was a real problem for a lot of teams in Stage 1, even with them having to use a substitute player. Their match against Fnatic was a perfect example. They came out strong on Mirage and totally surprised Fnatic. Then, on Inferno, it looked like NRG might actually pull it off. They tied things up around round 18 and seemed like they were taking control, but then Jambo stepped up with this incredible 1v3 clutch. Seriously, it was one of the best plays I’ve seen at the Budapest Major Stage 1!

hypex clutches out map point

Look, everyone’s been talking about GamerLegion’s problems finding a consistent AWPer – they tried sl3nd, then kursy, and now hypex. Honestly, hypex hadn’t really clicked yet either. But when they were facing elimination, he seriously stepped up! That quick triple AWP kill he pulled off gave me, and the whole team, real hope they could stay in the competition.

Karrigan pushes FaZe over the line: Best moments of the Major’s Stage 1

FaZe barely advanced to the next stage after a tough start. They had a shaky performance in the initial matches, and a difficult win against RED Canids. Their qualification match against Fluxo was also a struggle, going all the way to a third map with a very close score. Ultimately, FaZe’s captain secured the win with an impressive four-player elimination, pushing the team forward.

With the first stage complete after five exciting days of competition, we’re now moving on to Stage 2. The question is, who will stand out and qualify for the Major?

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2025-12-01 20:13