FaZe Clan Stuns Vitality in Upset Victory at StarLadder Budapest Major Stage 3
In a stunning upset at Stage 3 of the StarLadder Budapest Major, FaZe Clan pulled off a decisive 13-7 win over the heavily favored Team Vitality, shaking up the CS2 tournament landscape. This victory marks Vitality’s first defeat in the event and catapults FaZe back into contention after a rocky start to the competition.
FaZe entered the Major on the back foot, narrowly escaping elimination with a comeback against RED Canids earlier in the tournament. They also dropped a map to Fluxo, putting their progression in jeopardy. However, against Vitality who earned a direct invite to Stage 3 thanks to their elite status, the european squad flipped the script. FaZe held a slim 5-7 halftime lead on the map but dominated the second half, showcasing sharp execution on both their T-side attacks and CT-side holds to seal the deal.
Standout performances defined FaZe’s victory. David “frozen” Čerňanský was a force on the T-side, securing a crucial triple kill in the pistol round with a remarkable +11.1% kill death differential that swung momentum in their favour.
Vitality, riding high on a banner 2025 that included an massive win streak across multiple CS2 Majors, couldn’t overcome the pressure. Despite Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut’s heroics racking up nine AWP kills, several audacious wallbangs, and four opening picks the French stars faltered in key moments. As analyst “YNk” noted in a recent interview, “Vitality are unlikely to win StarLadder Budapest,” a sentiment that feels prescient after this stumble. It’s worth noting that Vitality’s last Tier 1 LAN title came at the Austin Major back in June, and this loss exposes potential cracks in their armor.
The result reverberates through the bracket, FaZe now eyes a clash with Team Spirit, testing whether this win is a true turning point or a fleeting spark. Elsewhere in Stage 3, G2 Esports cruised past Passion UA 13-8 before edging paiN 13-7, while FURIA delivered a demolition job on Natus Vincere with a lopsided 13-2 scoreline. FURIA, the current frontrunners and December’s top team on the CS2 Valve Regional Standings, arrive unbeaten after sweeps at IEM Chengdu and BLAST Open Fall, making them the squad to beat in this stacked field.
Since: October 29, 2025
