September 2025 delivered a double dose of CS2 history: Natus Vincere stormed to the StarLadder StarSeries Fall 2025 title in Budapest, while FURIA finally broke their curse to lift their first-ever Big Event trophy at FISSURE Playground 2 in Belgrade. Two different stories, one shared theme — redemption and resurgence.
StarSeries Fall 2025Hungary
Natus Vincere
Ninjas in Pyjamas
B8
Playground #2Serbia, Belgrade, Belgrade Arena
FURIA
The MongolZ
Team LiquidNAVI silence doubts with dominant StarSeries run
For months, Natus Vincere had been stumbling, struggling to find consistency after their top-four run at IEM Cologne. Early exits at BLAST Bounty, the Esports World Cup, and BLAST Open London left fans wondering if the makazze era was fading before it even began. But in Budapest, the CIS giants reminded the scene exactly who they are.
Final vs Ninjas in Pyjamas (2-0): NAVI wasted no time asserting dominance. On Nuke, their suffocating CT side set the tone, punishing NiP’s mid-round aggression and capitalizing on a crucial force-buy turnaround. A 13-7 finish gave NAVI the edge. Inferno proved tougher: NiP’s xKacpersky and r1nkle lit up the server, but NAVI’s resilience shone through. A flawless defensive wall and highlight plays from iM secured a nail-biting 13-10 to close the series.
Key stats: Mihai iM Ivan topped the scoreboard with a 1.49 rating, while w0nderful and b1t added consistent fragging firepower. NiP’s xKacpersky battled hard with 38 kills but couldn’t break NAVI’s momentum.
“We just needed to get some wins,” iM told HLTV before the playoffs. Mission accomplished — and then some.
FURIA end their Big Event drought in epic Belgrade marathon
While NAVI reclaimed their crown, FURIA finally earned theirs. After eight years and 38 failed attempts, the Brazilians lifted their first-ever Big Event trophy with a 3-2 thriller over The MongolZ at the Belgrade Arena.
The road wasn’t easy. From an opening victory over Liquid to statement wins against G2, Astralis, and Falcons, FURIA looked locked in. But the grand final was a war. Mirage went to overtime, Inferno swung on Senzu’s ace, Nuke pushed both teams to the limit, and Overpass saw The MongolZ claw back. It all came down to Dust2, where FURIA sealed the deal with a flawless CT side.
Heroes of the run: Danil molodoy Golubenko stole the spotlight with a 1.26 rating and his first MVP medal, while YEKINDAR delivered trademark entry aggression. Veterans KSCERATO, yuurih, and FalleN provided the backbone that finally pushed FURIA over the finish line. “KSCERATO and I have been trying for years,” yuurih said with tears in his eyes. “And being here, winning a tournament… I have no words.”
A tale of redemption
For NAVI, Budapest was about restoring confidence and proving that their revamped roster can contend again. For FURIA, Belgrade was about breaking a ceiling that had haunted them for nearly a decade. Two teams, two journeys — but both victories echo the same message: in CS2, persistence pays off.
As we head into the final stretch of 2025, NAVI and FURIA’s triumphs reset expectations. The scene now waits to see: will NAVI’s momentum hold? And has FURIA truly shed their “nearly men” tag? One thing’s certain — the road to the next Major just got a whole lot more exciting.