The Swiss Stage of the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 ends today, with only three more playoff tickets up for grabs. The matches are: B8 vs NAVI, FaZe vs Passion UA, and G2 vs Falcons, and these games will show who actually deserves to be in the playoff bracket, and which ones were just surviving off reputation.

B8 vs NAVI

B8 have been punching well above their weight all tournament, but now they face a team that can actually handle these kind of pressure games. They reached this far by winning grindy maps, where individual step-up streaks carried them – they’re not the most structured team, but they make it work.

NAVI on the other hand, have been inconsistent all tournament, but they finally showed signs of life against Team Vitality in Round 4 – and although they lost the series, both maps were very close. The reasons they lost that one was the early game, and if B8 can take advantage of that and turn it into a scrapfest early, they are definitely able to upset. But knowing what’s at stake here, I don’t think NAVI are in the mood for handing out charity round at this stage. If B8 don’t come out swinging – and I mean hard – NAVI will take this one.

Prediction: Leaning toward NAVI, but B8 are absolutely capable of upset.

FaZe vs Passion UA

FaZe shouldn’t even be in this spot to begin with, but here they are, fighting for their life against one of the more chaotic teams left in the Swiss. I don’t really think out-brain FaZe, but they for sure can out-swing them if FaZe pull those random full-tilt rounds they’re known to dip into lately.

FaZe have been all over the place this Major – if their individuals pop-off, they look like a contender (we saw what they did to Vitality earlier), when they don’t, they don’t even look like a S-tier team. But still, FaZe’s experience and the ability to grind out longer series makes them a favorite in this matchup. There’s no doubt that Passion UA has the tools to steal a map, but taking two from FaZe with the stakes on hand feels like a bit of a stretch.

Prediction: FaZe should grind this one out, but don’t be surprised if Passion UA make them sweat.

G2 vs Falcons

This game feels a bit heavier than the rest – two heavyweights facing an elimination. G2 aren’t looking too bad in Stage 3, but the cracks are slowly starting to show. Sure, they won the first two games against Passion UA and paiN, but got humbled right after by FURIA and MongolZ. Also, historically this matchup doesn’t go G2’s way too – they haven’t taken a single map off Falcons since IEM Katowice 2025 back in February, which is not nothing, Falcons clearly understand how to play and adapt into G2’s strats.

Falcons had their shaky moments too. Lost their heavily favored match against B8, then completely annihilating Passion UA and Imperial, before getting reverse-swept by MOUZ in Round 4. There’s no doubt they’re one of the top contenders, but against a team like G2 with plenty of raw firepower, they’re allowed no mistakes.

Prediction: Maybe a bold call, but I’m hard-leaning toward Falcons in a 2-0 series. G2 are looking way more tilt-y lately to give them the benefit of the doubt.