November 27, 2025
FaZe Clan Stay Alive at the CS2 StarLadder Budapest Major After Close Call FaZe reverse-sweep RED Canids after a shaky start to stay alive in Stage 1 of the Budapest Major
FaZe Clan entered the StarLadder Budapest Major as one of the event’s biggest favorites, especially after a clean 13–5 victory over Lynn Vision on day one. But what looked like a routine start quickly turned into a tense elimination battle, forcing FaZe to claw their way back from a 1–2 record to avoid an embarrassing early exit. Their matchup with RED Canids pushed the team to the brink—requiring a reverse sweep and a double-overtime thriller to stay alive.
🎯 Map 1: RED Canids Shock FaZe on Mirage
FaZe opened the series on their own map pick, Mirage, but immediately struggled to gain control.
Key points:
- RED Canids dominated the first half, jumping to a 3–9 lead on T-side.
- FaZe briefly stabilized with a pistol round win, but momentum never shifted.
- RED closed the map 13–7, with history leading the scoreboard:
- 8 AWP kills
- 1.47 rating
Dropping Mirage put FaZe at risk of falling out of the tournament far earlier than expected.
🔥 Map 2: A Double-Overtime Battle on Nuke
The pressure rose dramatically as FaZe entered Nuke—a must-win to stay in the series.
Early highlights included:
- A strong 6–3 lead fueled by frozen’s consistent impact.
- RED Canids rallying to tie the half 6–6, gaining confidence late in the map.
- Clutch rounds from chayJESUS and drop pushing FaZe into dangerous territory at 7–10.
FaZe finally regained control with:
- A last-second defuse by karrigan to force overtime.
- Three saved match points after RED surged ahead 15–12.
- Back-to-back triple kills from frozen to keep FaZe alive.
FaZe ultimately closed out Nuke 19–17 in double OT, largely thanks to frozen’s monstrous performance:
- 39 kills
- 11 opening kills
- 112.2 ADR
- 1.96 rating
The win kept FaZe alive and completely shifted the momentum of the series.
💥 Map 3: FaZe Dominate Inferno to Complete the Reverse Sweep
Inferno was the turning point where FaZe finally looked like themselves again.
Highlights:
- FaZe capitalized on missed AWP shots from history.
- A confident defensive side shut down RED’s early aggression.
- A decisive 13–5 victory sealed the reverse sweep.
Although history posted strong numbers—15 kills, 4 first kills, and 8 AWP kills—RED Canids crumbled in key moments, ultimately leading to their elimination.
🏆 Final Thoughts
FaZe Clan’s early struggles at the StarLadder Budapest Major nearly cost them their tournament run, but a resilient comeback led by frozen pushed them through to the next stage. With RED Canids now eliminated, FaZe move forward with renewed momentum and a chance to stabilize heading into Stage 2.