Vitality’s 3–1 win over FaZe in the grand final of the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 belonged firmly to the latter category. With it, the French organisation became the first team since Astralis in 2019 to win back-to-back Major titles — a milestone that confirms what the CS2 scene has felt all year long.
This wasn’t just another trophy. It was the final stamp on a year that now stands among Counter-Strike’s greatest.
Budapest Major 2025Hungary
Vitality
FaZe Clan
Natus VincereA Final That Turned on One Map
FaZe struck first on Nuke, punishing a shaky Vitality defense and capitalising on an uncharacteristically quiet start from Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut. Russel “Twistzz” Van Dulken set the pace early, and Finn “karrigan” Andersen orchestrated a suffocating CT side to close the opener 13–6.
Once Dust2 loaded in, Dan “apEX” Madesclaire flipped the switch. Vitality dismantled FaZe’s early information plays, abused late-round rotations, and sprinted to a 9–1 lead before FaZe could react. ZywOo came alive, flameZ delivered crucial clutches, and the map ended in a ruthless 13–3 response.
Control, Composure, and Closure
Inferno showcased Vitality at their most suffocating. William “mezii” Merriman dominated key rounds with clutch after clutch, while Robin “ropz” Kool made Pit completely inaccessible. FaZe’s attacks stalled repeatedly, and apEX’s mid-round calling left no room for adaptation.
The 13–9 win pushed Vitality to match point — and Overpass was little more than a coronation.
Vitality ripped through FaZe’s B site on a near-flawless T side, storming to an 11-round streak. ropz delivered a career-defining performance against his former team, posting a staggering 2.89 rating to seal the Major in emphatic fashion.
ZywOo and the Numbers That Matter
While ropz and mezii shone in the final, the tournament ultimately belonged to ZywOo.
The French superstar claimed his third Major MVP, becoming the first player in Counter-Strike history to reach that mark. His edge over the field came not just in ratings, but in impact — leading the event in kills per round win and repeatedly turning advantage into victories.
In a year already stacked with trophies, Budapest pushed ZywOo beyond comparison.
A Year That Redefined Expectations
Even during what some labelled a “quiet” stretch late in the season, Vitality never finished outside the top four at any event. Closing the year with a second Major crushed any lingering doubt about whether 2025 qualifies as an era.
apEX now stands level with names like device, gla1ve, Magisk, and Xyp9x for Major titles, trailing only dupreeh. And unlike previous dynasties, Vitality have done it amid the chaos of CS2’s early evolution.
“We did nine trophies and two Majors,” apEX said post-match. “I didn’t think this was possible.”
FaZe Fall Short, But Fight On
FaZe’s run to the final remains one of the Major’s most resilient stories.
They were 0.4 seconds from elimination in Stage 1, rebounded with trademark grit, and powered through Stage 3 before eliminating MOUZ and NAVI in playoffs. Rookie Jakub “jcobbb” Pietruszewski grew with every series, and despite the loss, FaZe end a difficult year with renewed belief.
“Worst year of my career,” karrigan admitted. “But I’m insanely proud of this team.”
StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 – Prize Pool Breakdown
The $1,250,000 USD prize pool was distributed across all 32 teams, rewarding both championship excellence and deep tournament runs.
| Place | Prize (USD) | Teams |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | $500,000 | Team Vitality |
| 2nd | $170,000 | FaZe Clan |
| 3rd–4th | $80,000 | Team Spirit, Natus Vincere |
| 5th–8th | $45,000 | Team Falcons, The MongolZ, MOUZ, FURIA |
| 9th–11th | $20,000 | B8, G2 Esports, Passion UA |
| 12th–14th | $20,000 | Imperial Esports, 3DMAX, paiN Gaming |
| 15th–16th | $20,000 | Team Liquid, PARIVISION |
| 17th–19th | $10,000 | Ninjas in Pyjamas, M80, Astralis |
| 20th–22nd | $10,000 | Fnatic, Aurora Gaming, TYLOO |
| 23rd–24th | $10,000 | MIBR, FlyQuest |
| 25th–27th | – | NRG, Fluxo, Legacy |
| 28th–30th | – | The Huns Esports, RED Canids, GamerLegion |
| 31st–32nd | – | Lynn Vision Gaming, Rare Atom |
The Verdict
They confirmed an era, elevated a legacy, and reminded the CS2 world what inevitability looks like. Back-to-back Majors don’t happen by accident — and in 2025, no team came close to matching Vitality’s level.
History has been written. And Vitality are the authors.