NAVI, FaZe, and G2 Fight for Playoff Spots in Budapest Major

The final round of Stage 3 at the Counter-Strike 2 Budapest Major 2025 sees six teams competing fiercely for three remaining playoff slots. Among the contenders, traditional powerhouses NAVI and FaZe Clan find themselves in surprising underdog roles, though both teams are poised for potential victories barring any major upsets. In a highly anticipated matchup, G2 Esports prepares to face Team Falcons in a decisive battle.

In their advancement match, NAVI is currently leading B8 1-0 after a commanding victory on Ancient, winning 13-4. As they move into Map 2, Train, NAVI maintains momentum and confidence following a dominant 3-0 sweep of B8 earlier in Stage 2. Despite a recent setback with a significant loss to FURIA, NAVI remains a strong favorite to progress. B8 made it to this stage by eliminating Team Falcons in Round 1 and defeating paiN Gaming, but they have struggled against top-tier teams.

FaZe Clan is set to face off against Passion UA in another crucial advancement series, scheduled for 16:30 CET. The match-up’s map vetoes and scores are yet to be determined. FaZe, having bounced back strong through Stage 2 with an undefeated run, initially opened Stage 3 with a win over Vitality. Nonetheless, they faced setbacks against Spirit and The MongolZ, pushing them into a critical Round 4, where they convincingly eliminated 3DMAX. Passion UA has been a surprising competitor, knocking out M80, Liquid, and Imperial, but previous losses to G2 and Falcons indicate a challenging path against elite teams.

The highlight of Round 5 will be the showdown between G2 Esports and Team Falcons. This match, a best-of-three format, is anticipated to determine which team will advance further in the tournament. G2 began this stage with impressive 2-0 victories over Passion UA and paiN but stumbled against FURIA and The MongolZ. Team Falcons, recovering from an early exit in Austin, initially faltered against B8 but rebounded with wins over Passion UA and Imperial, only to fall short against MOUZ in their previous match. The outcome of this contest is unpredictable, as both teams consist of some of the world’s top players.

With the playoff bracket nearly complete, current confirmed teams include FURIA, Team Spirit, The MongolZ, Team Vitality, and MOUZ. The winners of today’s matches will join them in the eight-team single-elimination playoff bracket, beginning on December 11, 2025, and culminating in the Grand Final on December 14.

As the competition intensifies, the stakes could not be higher for these teams, making for an exciting conclusion to the Budapest Major.