StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 stage 2 round 1 betting tips

StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 enters Stage 2 on Saturday, November 29, featuring the top eight teams from Stage 1 and eight directly invited squads who will begin their quest for the coveted trophy.

The opening day of Stage 2 will feature eight best-of-one fixtures, offering plenty of betting opportunities. Esportbet brings you free CS2 betting previews and expert tips for the first round of play with esports odds courtesy of the top-rated bookmakers.

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3DMAX vs FNATIC

Fnatic made it through Stage 1 with a 3-1 record, having beaten RED Canids, Imperial Esports, and NRG. Despite the impressive run, Fnatic are now set to face a much tougher team in 3DMAX, who reached the finals of the CS Asia Championships 2025 in October.

In that tournament, 3DMAX defeated Fnatic 2-1, but it wasn’t a very one-sided game. The French squad have since played eight games and won just two, and they are on a five-game losing streak with some poor defeats against weaker opponents.

On paper, 3DMAX are stronger, but they are in terrible shape and have not played a game in nearly a month. In a best-of-one, taking Fnatic at plus money makes far more sense.

ASTRALIS vs NINJAS IN PYJAMAS

Astralis are expected to defeat Ninjas in Pyjamas on Saturday, which is not too surprising. NiP have been fairly mediocre for most of the season, up until September, when they produced a surprise runner-up finish at StarLadder StarSeries Fall 2025.

It was their first and only notable accomplishment of the year and widely considered a fluke. That was confirmed just a month later, when NiP crashed out of PGL Masters Bucharest in 15th-16th place.

Astralis haven’t been particularly successful either, but they deserve some slack as the Danes have mainly competed at big events and still managed three top-eight placements since August, most recently at Intel Extreme Masters Chengdu. Despite their lack of titles, Astralis are the better team.

PARIVISION vs TYLOO

The top Counter-Strike 2 betting sites have TYLOO priced as underdogs for their clash with PARIVISION, who only just made it through Stage 1.

With losses against M80 and B8, PARIVISION came one game short of elimination, but they bounced back by beating the struggling GamerLegion and Legacy. Despite the rough start, the Russian outfit showed a lot of good things in those final two matches.

TYLOO can be dangerous, mainly because they’re an unknown opponent to many teams. But they have not played a game in nearly two weeks and are 0-6 across their last six outings, going up against a side that seems to have found its momentum.

PASSION UA vs FAZE CLAN

FaZe Clan looked very shaky in the opening stage of the Major. They kicked off the event with a victory against Lynn Vision Gaming, then lost to NRG and Ninjas in Pyjamas, and only dragged themselves over the finish line by edging past RED Canids and Fluxo in three maps.

A lack of games heading to Hungary could’ve played a role in FaZe’s abysmal start to the tournament. But even towards the end of Stage 1, they didn’t look convincing. There is a massive question mark above FaZe Clan and their chances of making it to Stage 3.

Passion UA are not among the main candidates to progress, but they have been more stable than FaZe, who seem capable of losing to anyone. This is not a bet on Passion UA so much as a bet against FaZe.

AURORA GAMING vs M80

Aurora Gaming are priced as firm favourites to defeat M80, and it is hard to argue with that. Even though M80 went 3-0 in Stage 1, they had a relatively easy schedule, facing PARIVISION, B8, and NRG. Now they will play a much tougher opponent, who should be too much to handle.

Since reaching the Esports World Cup finals, Aurora Gaming have lost some of their traction, but they regained momentum earlier this month by winning PGL Masters Bucharest. While they still have to prove themselves against Tier-1 opponents, M80 should not pose a serious threat.

NATUS VINCERE vs FLYQUEST

FlyQuest cruised through Stage 1, beating Legacy, Imperial Esports, and Fluxo without any issues. However, their true test begins on Saturday, when the Australian outfit take on Natus Vincere.

NAVI are expected to reach Stage 3, but their form heading into the Major is not great. Aleksi “Aleksib” Virolainen and his crew made some noise in October when they reached the finals of the Thunderpick World Championship, but they followed that up with a 13th-16th place finish in Chengdu after losses to Astralis and Heroic.

While this is Natus Vincere’s game to lose, FlyQuest are worth a look at $2.75. They are in solid shape and appear underrated at these numbers.

MIBR vs IMPERIAL ESPORTS

The final round of the day will see a Brazilian derby as MIBR face off against Imperial Esports for the second time this season and the first since October, when MIBR reverse-swept their rivals at FERJEE Rush 2025. It was a competitive game, and as the latest odds suggest, the rematch should be just as close.

Imperial head into this fixture less rusty than MIBR, as they fought through Stage 1 and ended it with a 3-2 record. That includes losses to Fnatic and FlyQuest and wins against Rare Atom, The Huns Esports, and NRG.

While Imperial haven’t been properly tested, the momentum they’ve gained this week should help propel them over MIBR.

TEAM LIQUID vs B8

B8 ended Stage 1 with a solid 3-1 record. They lost the first game against M80 but won the next three against The Huns Esports, PARIVISION, and Legacy Esports.

With those victories, B8 are 6-4 over their last 10, including wins against Astralis and 3DMAX, who beat Team Liquid 2-1 not long ago.

Team Liquid have managed a stronger 7-3 record in their last 10 outings, but that stretch includes some shaky results, namely a 2-1 victory against BetBoom Team and Legacy (twice), and a 1-2 loss against SAW at the end of October.

While stronger on paper, Team Liquid have been anything but consistent of late and are not to be trusted as favourites in a best-of-one. They have also not played a game in nearly one month, which is far from optimal.