xplay.gg Partners with StarLadder Budapest Major 2025
Great news — xplay.gg is officially joining forces with the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025! For the xplay.gg team, this is a huge step. Working with one of the biggest CS2 tournaments of the year is both exciting and meaningful.
We’re looking forward to an action-packed Major, full of top plays, insane highlights, and all the moments that make CS2 so exciting. We’re confident this partnership will open up lots of cool opportunities — more content, more activities, and an even closer connection to the tournament.
StarLadder Major 2025 — Quick Info
When and where?
The tournament runs from November 24 to December 14, 2025 in Budapest, Hungary.
Format
- Stages 1–3: Swiss system; early matches are BO1, elimination/advancement matches are BO3.
- Playoffs: Single elimination, BO3.
- Grand Final: BO5.
Starting positions depend on team rankings: some enter at Stage 1, others start at Stage 2, and the top-ranked teams join in Stage 3 in December.
- Stage 1 (Nov 24–27): 16 invited teams compete for 8 spots in Stage 2. The rest leave the tournament (places 25–32).
- Stage 2 (Nov 29–Dec 2): 8 winners from Stage 1 meet 8 new, higher-seeded teams to fight for 8 places in Stage 3.
- Stage 3 (Dec 4–7): Stage 2 winners face the top teams in the world. The best 8 advance to the playoffs.
- Playoffs (Dec 11–14): 8 teams battle in a single-elimination bracket.
Prize Pool
The total prize pool is $1,250,000.
Participants
This year there are no qualifiers — a first in Major history. All 32 teams qualify based on the Valve rankings as of October 6.
Stage 1 Teams:
FaZe Clan, GamerLegion, Ninjas in Pyjamas, B8, PARIVISION, Fnatic, Legacy, Imperial Esports, M80, NRG, Fluxo, RED Canids, Lynn Vision, The Huns, FlyQuest, Rare Atom
Stage 2 Teams:
8 Stage 1 winners + Aurora, Natus Vincere, Astralis, 3DMAX, Team Liquid, MIBR, Passion UA, TyLoo
Stage 3 Teams:
8 Stage 2 winners + Team Vitality, Team Spirit, Falcons Esports, MOUZ, G2 Esports, FURIA, paiN Gaming, The MongolZ
Stay tuned for updates — there’s a lot of content and activities coming that will make this Major truly epic for the xplay.gg community.