Stage 3 is done, the final teams has been eliminated and the Budapest Major playoff bracket is finally set. Team Spirit and FURIA cruised through the Swiss and now sit on opposite sides of the playoffs, which opens up the dream scenario: Spirit vs FURIA in the grand final.
Here is a full pick’em run through the bracket, quarter-finals to grand final, with quick matchup analysis and our pick for each matchup
Quarter-final predictions
Vitality vs The MongolZ
Vitality have the star power and the structure. ZywOo is still the best player in most servers he joins, Magisk and Spinx bring stable rifling, and the team has already shown they can control games against tier one opposition in Budapest. They rarely collapse against underdogs in playoffs.
The MongolZ are the wildcard. They have upset potential, insane mechanical skill, and zero fear, which is why nobody wants to see them in a best of one. In a best of three against a team as drilled as Vitality, their shallow map pool and lack of pure superstar should start to show.
Our pick: Vitality
Spirit vs Falcons
Spirit went 3-0 in the Swiss and looked comfortable doing it. Their system is tight, their mid round calls are confident, and they have donk and sh1ro playing with zero respect. When those two are hot they look like they are unbeatable.
Falcons finally made it in as the last playoff team, and they are exactly what you expect from a “new” super team: huge peaks, but a lot of shaky rounds mixed in. NiKo, kyousuke and m0NESY can absolutely steal maps by themselves, yet the team is still ironing out roles and late round decision making.
In a Bo3 Spirit’s team play and current form should beat Falcons
Our pick: Spirit
MOUZ vs FaZe
MOUZ have quietly become one of the most reliable teams in big events. The young core has a ton of firepower, calls with confidence, and they usually come in with solid prep and deep playbooks. In Budapest they have already shown they can hang with the best, barely losing to Spirit in a close Bo3.
FaZe are the opposite right now. The names are legendary and the ceiling is still championship level, but their path through the Swiss was bumpy and they have not looked like the iron solid FaZe that lifted trophies. They can absolutely spike in form and have the FaZe-factor, but that’s not enough for me.
In a pick’em where consistency matters more than reputation, MOUZ feel like the smarter choice.
Our pick: MOUZ
FURIA vs Natus Vincere
FURIA stormed through the Swiss at 3-0 and arrive in the playoffs with huge momentum. KSCERATO is playing like a top five rifler in the world, yuurih is right behind him, and the additions of FalleN, YEKINDAR and molodoy have given the team both structure and extra firepower. You can see when they play, that they believe they can win the Major,
NAVI are still in the “new team” phase with makazze. The Aleksib led lineup has talent and a high theoretical ceiling, but they have not yet shown the same level of consistency as the best teams at this event. When everything clicks, NAVI can grind out wins on the basis of discipline and clutch rounds. But they also have a rookie.
Given how sharp FURIA have looked and how clean their 3-0 run was, it is hard not to back the Brazilians here.
Our pick: FURIA
Semi-final predictions
Vitality vs Spirit
Vitality bring the Major winning pedigree. They are extremely well coached, they understand pressure, and they have ZywOo to tilt almost any matchup in their favour. Their strengths are clear: strong fundamentals, good utility, and a star who wins rounds that should be unwinnable.
Spirit enter as the team nobody wants to face. They play confidently, they take space all over the map, and their riflers are in terrifying form. The big question is how they will handle facing a fully experienced top three team in an arena setting.
This feels like the classic clash of the established champion vs the new blood. In a pick’em, you usually lean toward the team peaking at the event, and that is Spirit. Their confidence and the sheer volume of firepower across the lineup can overwhelm even Vitality.
Our pick: Spirit
MOUZ vs FURIA
MOUZ will want to slow things down, play their structured defaults, and punish FURIA’s aggression with good spacing and trading. If they keep the nerves under control and avoid getting dragged into chaotic brawls, they have a real shot.
FURIA, meanwhile, thrive in planned chaos. They MOUZ to feel uncomfortable. With molodoy and YEKINDAR opening rounds, and FalleN layering in experience and calling, FURIA can turn any map into a fistfight where they usually come out on top.
MOUZ are strong enough to make this competitive, but FURIA’s current form and the amount of big match experience on the roster give them the edge. Only question for me is whether molodoy can keep up this form on the biggest stage in the world.
Our pick: FURIA
Grand final prediction
Spirit vs FURIA
This is the dream storyline for the Budapest Major: the two 3-0 Swiss teams meeting again, but this time in a best of five for the trophy.
Spirit will bring raw momentum. If their stars keep up the level they have shown so far, their aggressive style could put FURIA on the back foot. They have enough depth to be dangerous across most of the pool, and they will not be scared of the stage.
FURIA arrive as the emotional powerhouse of the event playing off the power of friendship. The mix of Brazilian flair and veteran leadership has clicked, their T sides are explosive, and they have multiple players capable of taking over entire halves. Over a long series, that depth of experience plus the confidence from their unbeaten run should matter a lot.
In a best of five you usually back the team with the stronger mental game and more proven veterans. For that reason, the slight edge goes to the Brazilians.
Our pick: FURIA to win the StarLadder Budapest Major
Spirit are a very real threat and could definitely flip this script, but if you have to lock one champion in your pick’em, FURIA are a great call: they are in form, they blitzed the Swiss, and their path through the bracket sets up nicely for a deep run all the way to the trophy.
