It’s second stage at the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025, and young players from B8 could break their reputation as underdogs. One step was needed to boost B8 to the CS2 esports elite: qualify for Stage 3.
The first time the general Counter-Strike community noted B8 was at the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025.
They defeated Astralis to take the last remaining spot at the European qualifier. Then, B8 advanced in Stage 2 with a 3:0 and reached a 2:1 score in that phase, defeating even Falcons. Still, B8 got FURIA and Lynn Vision as decisive opponents and couldn’t win those matches.
It’s a totally different story now, as we are in the whirl of the Budapest Major excitement. However, B8 unleashed relatively the same pattern. In Stage 2, they were with a 2:1 score again — wins over Team Liquid and Fnatic, but a loss to NAVI.
The final rounds of Stage 2 of the StarLadder CS2 Major 2025 in Budapest were two chances for B8 to dive even deeper into the pool of the most dangerous Counter-Strike sharks. One win only, and they get in Stage 3.
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Success on chance 1: B8 defeat 3DMAX and advance to the next stage in the Budapest Major
Banned maps | Map 1 | Map 2 | Map 3 | Match score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mirage, 3DMAX Nuke, B8 | Train, 3DMAX pick | Ancient, B8 pick | Dust II, decider | B8 2:1 3DMAX |
| B8 3:13 3DMAX | B8 13:9 3DMAX | B8 13:8 3DMAX |
The first and the final opponents in this short journey were players from 3DMAX. They have had a more notable presence at big Counter-Strike 2 events and could be named the favorites in this matchup. The match did not go their way.
B8 won and advanced to Stage 3 of the StarLadder Budapest Major, which is a historic achievement for such young players. It's super interesting to follow their matches with the current top teams in CS2 esports.
Train
Train was absolutely incredible for 3DMAX and their recklessly aggressive playstyle. Even on the T side, they rushed into the action in the first seconds and earned big advantages to secure rounds. B8 were losing positioning and duels, as if they were totally overclassed or crumbled under pressure.
Ancient
On Ancient, B8 took notes from 3DMAX’s book on aggressive pushes to take unusual positions. They did it across different rounds, and it worked well now and then, like for the very last two kills from behind the backs, by Oleksii "alex666" Yarmoshchuk.
The map was still very competitive. Even in the end, when 3DMAX had their economy broken, it required amazing skills and a 3K from Dmytro "esenthial" Tsvir to not lose to a low buy. In general, Andrii "npl" Kukharskyi was a star player for B8 on Ancient.
Dust II
The T side was awful for 3DMAX on Dust II. Apart from one win on partial buy, they could do nothing. Some rounds went with no kills at all from them. Others were failed conversions from a man advantage. B8 were great with their positioning and movement, like a stealthy rotation from Artem "kensizor" Kapran through Lower Tunnels towards B in Round 3 or a 4K from alex666 behind the Long Doors in Round 10.
With an 11:1 on the scoreboard, 3DMAX on the CT side let B8 reach the match point and then finally woke up. However, those few rounds weren’t enough. On a low buy, B8 secured the final round to defeat 3DMAX with a great recovery after Map 1.
3DMAX, strongly in the mid-tier
This team participated in top-level tournaments throughout 2025, but the results of 3DMAX are rather moderate.
- The highest placement was 2nd at the CS Asia Championships 2025, but all the big teams skipped that event.
- 3DMAX were in the top 8 of ESL Pro League Season 22 and the CS2 Esports World Cup 2025, which is more impressive.
- In Austin, 3DMAX made it to Stage 3 but had only one win, over G2 Esports.
The 3DMAX guys are strong competitors, and they joined the Budapest Major with Stage 2. They lost to Fnatic in the opening Bo1 and then defeated FlyQuest and Passion UA.
Whoever advances from Rounds 4 and 5 to Stage 3, the challenge there will be immense. It’s the phase where the strongest teams join the StarLadder CS2 Budapest Major 2025, such as FURIA, Vitality, and MOUZ. This competitive mayhem starts on Dec. 4.
