BREAKING: The battle for playoff spots intensifies at the Counter-Strike 2 Budapest Major today, as NAVI, FaZe Clan, and G2 Esports vie for survival in a thrilling Stage 3 Round 5. With only three playoff slots remaining, every match is critical as the clock ticks down to the December 11 playoff start date.
NAVI is currently facing off against B8, leading 1-0 after a commanding 13-4 victory on Ancient, a map chosen by B8. The second map, Train, is underway, with Mirage looming as a potential decider. Earlier, NAVI swept B8 in Stage 2 with a decisive 3-0 victory, but recent challenges, including a disheartening 2-13 loss to FURIA, put them on alert. Despite these setbacks, NAVI remains a strong favorite against an outclassed B8 team.
Meanwhile, FaZe Clan is set to take on Passion UA at 16:30 CET in what promises to be an electrifying matchup. After a shaky start in Stage 1, FaZe rebounded in Stage 2 with an undefeated run and a solid victory over Vitality. Although they faced tough losses to Spirit and The MongolZ, their performance against 3DMAX suggests they are back on track. Passion UA has surprised many by eliminating top teams like M80 and Liquid, but their recent defeats to G2 and Falcons highlight their struggles against elite squads.
The highlight of the day features a must-watch matchup between G2 Esports and Team Falcons in a winner-takes-all Best of 3 series, scheduled for later today with the exact time still to be determined. G2 began Stage 3 with a bang, securing victories against Passion UA and paiN before stumbling against both FURIA and The MongolZ. Team Falcons, recovering from an early exit in Austin, bounced back from a loss to B8 with impressive wins against Passion UA and Imperial, yet fell short against MOUZ. This clash promises to be a nail-biter, as both teams are among the world’s best and are eager to secure their playoff positions.
Playoff spots are almost complete, with FURIA, Team Spirit, The MongolZ, Team Vitality, and MOUZ already locked in. The winners of today’s high-stakes matches will join them in the eight-team single elimination playoff bracket, kicking off on December 11 and culminating in the Grand Final on December 14.
Stay tuned as the competition heats up and these teams fight for their chance to win it all!
