FaZe scrape past Fluxo to make Stage 2 of the StarLadder Budapest Major
FaZe have qualified for Stage 2 of the Major after yet another nailbiting series in the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025, defeating Fluxo 2-1.
The Copenhagen and Shanghai Major finalists looked in deep trouble at times against Fluxo, but won nine rounds in a row to make it over the line at the first stage of the Budapest Major.
The roster only made the 2-2 bracket by the finest of margins, surviving series points against Red Canids, but will now progress to the second stage of the major.
FaZe vs Fluxo – Map 1: Inferno
FaZe had won their previous series against Red Canids by winning Map 3 of Inferno, showing a much better face on the map than the previous maps in the contest.
It felt like the Fluxo series would be a continuation of that improvement as FaZe again took comfortable control of Inferno.
A typically strong performance from Russel ‘Twistzz’ Van Dulken was bolstered by clutching contribution from under pressure Helvijs ‘broky’ Saukants as FaZe took an 8-4 lead after their T half.
Fluxo threatened the fightback with the pistol and conversion, but fell immediately to a string of CT rounds from FaZe, who closed out the map 13-6
There was a palpable sense that normalcy had returned for FaZe, who were strong favourites for the series.
Map 2: Nuke
Nuke reversed that sense of well-being for FaZe fans, as their CT-side was simply a horror show.
Finn ‘karrigan’ Andersen played outside on T-side, continually giving Fluxo advantages early in the round.
Round after round, Andrei ‘arT’ Piovezan found the Dane to free up Fluxo to go where they wanted, usually B.
The result was a 7-5 T-sided half from Fluxo, but in truth, it could have been more. A 3-9 scoreline from karrigan reflected the rounds Fluxo could have converted had they not lost clutches.
FaZe equalised the game with the pistol and conversion, but when the guns came out, Fluxo began a proactive CT-half, which stunned an out-of-sorts FaZe roster.
Fluxo closed the map 13-7 in an ugly performance for FaZe Clan.
Map 3: Mirage
A harrowing map of Nuke, but surely FaZe would stabilise on Mirage. David ‘frozen’ Čerňanský and Twistzz had provided firepower in abundance at the event, despite their issues, and Mirage is an aimer’s paradise.
Instead, it was Kayke ‘kye’ Bertolucci who took the game in his hands. With FaZe looking to target the B bomb site, kye was a colossus on the site, getting multikill after multikill to vanquish the FaZe waves.
FaZe played simplistic, unlayered CS, perhaps reflective of their lack of confidence in their playbook. The result was rounds which lasted sometimes only 30 seconds, falling more often than not in Fluxo’s favour.
Fluxo took a startling 8-4 lead on the half, as FaZe looked worryingly flat after their T side on Mirage.
Two more from kye and a 1v1 clutch from arT won Fluxo the pistol. A quick conversion game, and FaZe looked on the ropes. Yet it was far from over.
Fluxo seemed to vacillate in their decision-making, ending with a botched B-site hit as FaZe claimed their first CT-round.
After breaking the Fluxo economy, FaZe were within three rounds of Fluxo.
When Fluxo got guns back in their hands, a quick double from Jakub ‘jcobbb’ Pietruszewski and broky took the game to 10-8, and reinforced a worrying pattern for Fluxo: These rounds were not close, and FaZe’s economy was expanding rapidly.
Fluxo’s own economy was broken, with the team running successive rounds with uneven buys. Neither resulted in a bomb plant or even access to a site.
With their bank accounts full, FaZe’s holds continued to be decisive, and Fluxo’s play became increasingly disjointed, missing utility in the process.
FaZe quickly took map and series point 12-10. karrigan clawed back a 2v4 in the 23rd round, then covered a defusing broky, securing the map 13-10.
FaZe move on to Stage 2 by the finest of margins, but they simply must improve if they don’t want their journey to end there.
For Fluxo, bitter regret. The team clearly tightened up when the finish line was in sight. They could not muster the ability to play to win, and lost as a result.
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