Disclaimer: Predictions are based on opinion and should not be construed as betting advice. Past performance does not guarantee future outcomes. Odds and VRS rankings are accurate as of November 20, 2025, and can change at a moment’s notice.

StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 is the crowning Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) esports event of the year, taking place in Hungary from November 24 to December 14. With 32 teams competing for their share of $1,250,000 and the glory of becoming a CS Major Championship winner, the excitement is palpable.

Join us in the hype as we share our power rankings for the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025, considering a myriad of factors, including CS2 betting odds, to pick the top eight teams. 

StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 Power Rankings 

Featuring 32 teams battling across four stages, the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 stands as one of the year’s biggest events. Adding to the excitement and pressure, all matches will take place on LAN in front of a live audience.

In our power rankings, we’ve attempted to predict the top eight teams that could make it to the Playoffs Stage. VRS rankings and bookmaker odds as of November 20 were used to create power rankings—though remember that odds might change as the tournament progresses.

To inform our predictions, we’ve used decimal odds (Stake x Odds = Payout), but also provide American odds and the implied probability for good measure. Odds represent a bookmaker’s confidence in an outcome occurring, playing a vital role in determining a team’s expected strength.

FURIA (#1)

With the two-time Major Championship-winning Brazilian IGL Gabriel “FalleN” Toledo leading the charge, FURIA has won three consecutive top-tier LAN events: Thunderpick World Championship, IEM Chengdu, and BLAST Rivals Season 2.

Their recent success inspires much confidence, as they hit their peak just before the Budapest Major. It’s no secret that FURIA have become the favorites, with odds of 2.75 (+175) signaling an implied probability of 36.36% for FURIA to lift the coveted trophy.

If FURIA can make a deep run, there’s confidence they can beat any opponent. After all, FalleN has won 15 best-of-five finals on LAN and has only lost once, at IEM Katowice 2016—and StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 is the first CS Major Championship to feature a best-of-five Grand Final.

FURIA roster:

• Yuri “yuurih” Boian
• Kaike “KSCERATO” Cerato
• Mareks “YEKINDAR” Gaļinskis
• Danil “molodoy” Golubenko
• Gabriel “FalleN” Toledo (IGL)
• Sidnei “sidde” Macedo (Coach)

Team Falcons (#2)

Bosnian superstar entry fragger Nikola “NiKo” Kovač is considered the best CS2 player never to have won a Major Championship—but that might change in Hungary. With wunderkind Maksim “kyousuke” Lukin on form, Team Falcons (#3 on VRS) can win the StarLadder Budapest Major. 

Star AWPer Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov looks frightening, having been named the MVP at both ESL Pro League Season 22 and BLAST Rivals Season 2, despite Team Falcons finishing in 2nd place. Odds of 3.75 (+275) indicate a 26.67% chance for Team Falcons to soar above the competition.

Team Falcons roster: 

• Nikola “NiKo” Kovač
• Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov
• Maksim “kyousuke” Lukin
• René “TeSeS” Madsen
• Damjan “kyxsan” Stoilkovski (IGL)
• Danny “zonic” Sørensen (Coach)

Team Vitality (#3)

The first half of 2025 was, without a doubt, dominated by Team Vitality (#2 on the VRS), as the squad won seven S-Tier LAN events in a row, finishing up with the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025.

In total, Team Vitality has lifted eight tournaments this year, and a recent 2nd-place finish at IEM Chengdu 2025 does inspire confidence. Bookmakers give Team Vitality the same odds of 3.75 (+275) as Team Falcons to lift the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 trophy.

These odds indicate a 26.67% chance for Dan “apEX” Madesclaire’s men to go all the way. However, we decided to rank Team Vitality 3rd instead of 2nd due to a 2-0 loss against Team Falcons in the Semifinals of BLAST Rivals 2025.

Team Vitality roster:

• Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut
• Robin “ropz” Kool
• Shahar “flameZ” Shushan
• William “mezii” Merriman
• Dan “apEX” Madesclaire (IGL)
• Rémy “XTQZZZ” Quoniam (Coach)

MOUZ (#4)

As one of the most consistent teams throughout the year, MOUZ is ranked #4 on the VRS. After winning PGL Cluj-Napoca back in February, MOUZ hasn’t managed to claim any more trophies. However, the squad has stayed together and earned four 2nd-place finishes at top-tier LAN events, as well as several 3rd- and 4th-place finishes.

Thanks to their incredible consistency under the leadership of Swedish IGL Ludvig “Brollan” Brolin, the odds of 7.5 (+650) indicate MOUZ has a 13.33% chance of lifting the StarLadder Budapest Major trophy.

MOUZ roster:

• Ádám “torzsi” Torzsás
• Dorian “xertioN” Berman
• Jimi “Jimpphat” Salo
• Lotan “Spinx” Giladi
• Ludvig “Brollan” Brolin (IGL)
• Dennis “sycrone” Nielsen (Coach)

Team Spirit (#5)

If the 2024 Player of the Year Danil “donk” Kryshkovets can find peak form, and the most recent roster addition Andrey “tN1R” Tatarinovich can click heads with absolute vigor, Team Spirit (#7 on the VRS) could go all the way.

Odds of 6.5 (+550) signal an implied probability of 15.38% for Team Spirit to win the tournament. While the squad has looked a bit shaky, the fans hope that they can stabilize at the right time—and there’s no better place than a Major Championship.

Team Spirit roster:

• Danil “donk” Kryshkovets
• Dmitriy “sh1ro” Sokolov
• Ivan “zweih” Gogin
• Andrey “tN1R” Tatarinovich
• Leonid “chopper” Vishnyakov (IGL)
• Sergey “hally” Shavayev (Coach)

G2 Esports (#6)

After losing superstars NiKo and m0NESY to Team Falcons at the start of 2025, G2 Esports (#8 on the VRS) has started to recover in the 2nd half of the year.

With Nemanja “huNter-” Kovač leading the charge and Guatemalan rifler Mario “malbsMd” Samayoa hitting solid form, G2 Esports beat Team Vitality at the BLAST Open London 2025 back in September.

Their 3-2 victory over Team Vitality showcases that they can go toe-to-toe with the best in the world. Odds of 13.0 (+1200) indicate a 7.69% probability of G2 Esports coming out on top.

G2 Esports roster:

• Mario “malbsMd” Samayoa
• Nikita “HeavyGod” Martynenko
• Alvaro “SunPayus” Garcia
• Matúš “matys” Šimko
• Nemanja “huNter-” Kovač (IGL)
• Eetu “sAw” Saha (Coach)

Aurora Gaming (#7)

Fresh off a 2nd-place finish at the Esports World Cup 2025 and their first top-tier LAN victory at PGL Masters Bucharest on November 1, Aurora Gaming (#5 on VRS) head into the Major in excellent form.

Aurora Gaming’s journey begins in Stage 2 of the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025, where they are one of the favorites to make it to Stage 3 unscathed. Their performance in Stage 2 will indicate whether the squad has a real shot of going all the way.

Bookmaker odds of 12.0 (+1100) signal an implied probability of 8.33% for Aurora Gaming to lift the StarLadder Budapest Major trophy.

Aurora Gaming roster:

• İsmailсan “XANTARES” Dörtkardeş
• Ali “Wicadia” Haydar Yalçın
• Özgür “woxic” Eker
• Samet “jottAAA” Köklü
• Engin “MAJ3R” Küpeli (IGL)
• Sezgin “Fabre” Kalaycı (Coach)

NAVI (#8)

If NAVI (#9 on VRS) can hit their stride in Stage 2 and qualify for Stage 3, there’s a solid chance they can make it to the top eight.

NAVI was the first-ever Major Championship winner in CS2, as they claimed the PGL Major Copenhagen 2024 trophy over a year ago. The only change to the Major-winning roster is the retirement of Justinas “jL” Lekavičius, with NAVI bringing in promising 18-year-old rifler Drin “makazze” Shaqiri.  

Odds of 13.0 (+1200) indicate a 7.69% chance of NAVI winning the tournament. If Finnish IGL Aleksi “Aleksib” Virolainen can make those brilliant calls and headshot machine Valerii “b1t” Vakhovskyi powers up, NAVI might just surprise fans.

NAVI roster:

• Valerii “b1t” Vakhovskyi
• Mihai “iM” Ivan
• Ihor “w0nderful” Zhdanov
• Drin “makazze” Shaqiri
• Aleksi “Aleksib” Virolainen (IGL)
• Andrii “B1ad3” Horodenskyi (Coach)

FAQs

References

1. StarLadder_cs_en (Twich)
2. StarLadder CS2 Highlights (YouTube)
3. starladder1 Stream – Watch Live (Kick)