Few predicted that NAVI and FaZe would make it to the Major’s semifinals, but against all odds, they’re now competing for a place in the grand final.
FaZe Clan had a rocky start at the Major, barely making it through the first stage and facing calls for a team overhaul. It’s great to see them now in the semifinals – their success has completely shaken up expectations and proven how unpredictable CS2 esports can be. All predictions about clear frontrunners seem to have been wrong.
NAVI also had a dramatic run. They performed well in Stage 2, but barely qualified for the Playoffs after a tough Stage 3 that went to a full five rounds. Their win against FURIA was especially impressive, considering FURIA had previously dominated them in the Swiss stage.
The semifinal match between NAVI and FaZe at the 2025 StarLadder Major in Budapest pits two surprising contenders against each other. Both teams are determined to win the championship.
Stream: Watch NAVI vs FaZe at the Budapest Major 2025
Join us on December 13th for the second semifinal match of the Budapest Major 2025, featuring NAVI taking on FaZe Clan. You can watch the game here or on the official StarLadder YouTube channel.
Team Secret has become the first team to reach the grand final after winning their semifinal match against Team Vitality.
NAVI versus FaZe Clan: Maps, score, and details
| Banned maps | Map 1 | Map 2 | Map 3 | Match score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | NAVI 0:0 FaZe |
| NAVI 0:0 FaZe | NAVI 0:0 FaZe | NAVI 0:0 FaZe |
Reaching the top four at the CS2 Budapest Major is a great accomplishment, but FaZe and NAVI are definitely hoping to go even further!
Ups and downs throughout the season: Match preview
FaZe Clan struggled early in 2025, particularly with losing crucial rounds and bouncing back afterward. To address this, they brought in Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev for a temporary period. Despite these challenges, FaZe still managed to reach the top 8 at the Austin Major.
In the second half of 2025, FaZe had difficulties qualifying for Playoffs at big events.
- The top 4 at the ESL Pro League Season 22 was the highest achievement for FaZe this season. It happened before the team lost Håvard “rain” Nygaard.
Just before the Budapest Major, FaZe competed in IEM Chengdu 2025, but they didn’t win a single match. They lost to MOUZ and were then eliminated by Virtus.pro.
NAVI faced similar challenges. Adding a new player, Drin “makazze” Shaqiri, naturally meant the team needed time to adjust and work together.
- The top 4 placement for NAVI was at IEM Cologne 2025. They won a much smaller event, StarSeries Fall 2025.
Not winning anything at IEM Chengdu is also a thing for Natus Vincere.
FaZe Clan beat MOUZ in the Budapest Major quarterfinals, settling the score after their loss in Chengdu. NAVI also won their match against FURIA, a satisfying victory after being defeated in the grand final of the Thunderpick World Championship.
On December 14th, we’ll find out who wins the Major championship – either NAVI or FaZe. Following the tournament, professional Counter-Strike will have a short break before the 2026 CS2 season begins at the end of January.
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2025-12-13 18:11