FUT Capture Maiden LAN Title at DraculaN Season 3 Before the StarLadder Major Begins

FUT have written a new chapter in their Counter-Strike journey, storming through the lower bracket and defeating five of Romania’s highest-ranked squads to seize the DraculaN Season 3 trophy. Their 2-0 win over ECSTATIC in the grand final wasn’t just a display of resilience — it was the long-awaited breakout moment this roster has been chasing since entering the scene.

Grand Final: FUT Hold Their Nerve on Train and Dominate on Dust2

The grand final opened on Train, where FUT exploded out of the gates behind a fiery start from Laurențiu “lauNX” Țârlea, racing to an 11–1 lead. But ECSTATIC weren’t dead yet — powered by a monstrous 2.50-rated CT half from Frederik “acoR” Gyldstrand, the Danes clawed their way to overtime. FUT kept their composure, regained control, and snatched the map 16–14.

Dust2 began in similar fashion: FUT soared to a 5–1 start, ECSTATIC answered back to level the halftime score, but this time the Romanians slammed the door shut. Aulon “Krabeni” Fazlija anchored a rock-solid CT side, denying any hint of a repeat comeback. FUT closed the map 13–8 and, with it, the series.

A $5,579 Payday and a 161-Point Leap in the Global Rankings

With the title secured, FUT pocketed a $5,579 grand prize and a 161-point VRS bump — a massive ranking boost that lifts them 19 spots to 22nd globally. For an organization still early in its Counter-Strike era, this moment stands as a milestone.

It’s also the first trophy for the squad’s core since the days of their NAVI Junior upbringing, and fittingly, they had to earn it the hard way after a shocking best-of-one loss to AM in the opening round.

The Lower Bracket Gauntlet: Six Straight Wins

After being knocked down early, the squad started the rebuild: surviving a tense battle with UNiTY, dispatching Friendly Campers, and winning tight 2–1 series against Inner Circle and Tricked. Once momentum kicked in, the team looked unstoppable.

The lower bracket final told the same story — 2–0 sweeps over ENCE and Passion UA put FUT on a collision course with an undefeated ECSTATIC in the grand final. And on the biggest stage of the tournament, they delivered.

Player Highlights and Standout Performances

lauNX and Nikita “cmtry” Samolotov led from the front, both finishing the event with stellar 1.20 ratings, closely followed by Džiugas “dziugss” Steponavičius at 1.19.

Despite the loss, acoR topped the playoffs with an impressive 1.35 average rating, dominating throughout ECSTATIC’s upper bracket run. But even his brilliance couldn’t save the team from faltering offensively in the final showdown.

Top Placements at DraculaN Season 3

1. FUT (Europe) – $5,579
2. ECSTATIC (Denmark) – $2,790
3. Passion UA (Other) – $1,674
4. ENCE (Europe) – $1,116
5–6. Tricked (Denmark)
5–6. Nexus (Romania)
7–8. Inner Circle (Ukraine)
7–8. illwill (Ukraine)

All Eyes Now on the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025

And while FUT celebrate their first-ever LAN title, the wider Counter-Strike world is already shifting its attention to tomorrow’s massive kickoff: the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025. The Major of the new season arrives with enormous expectations, fresh storylines, and the pressure cooker atmosphere that only a Major can deliver.

Top contenders are locked in, new rosters are ready to debut on the biggest stage, and the Budapest crowd is expected to ignite one of the most electric Major atmospheres in years. With the CS2 meta still evolving and several heavyweights showing signs of vulnerability, this Major has all the ingredients for chaos, breakout stars, and unforgettable upsets.

The Significance of This Victory

DraculaN Season 3 will be remembered as FUT’s breakthrough moment — the one where their talent caught up with their ceiling. After rebuilding their identity and grinding their way through one of the toughest lower bracket runs in regional competition, the team now stands firmly among Europe’s rising contenders.

And with the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 starting tomorrow, we’re stepping straight from one celebration into the next chapter of Counter-Strike history.