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The StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 continues, now entering Stage 2, where every match matters more and teams start feeling the real pressure of the tournament. The group stage is still at MTK Sportpark, while the playoffs will take place at the MVM Dome in Budapest.
Day 1 of Stage 2 features a BO1 between Passion UA and FaZe Clan. With only a single map to decide the outcome, there is little room for mistakes. Passion UA will aim to use their fast-paced and unpredictable style to gain early control, while FaZe relies on structured teamwork, experience, and clutch potential to dominate key rounds. This matchup will show which team can adapt quickest under Stage 2 pressure.
How The Bookies View It: FaZe Favoured
Bookmakers see FaZe Clan as the favorites for this BO1 matchup, with odds of 1.66 compared to Passion UA’s 2.20. The lower odds on FaZe reflect their experience, consistent results, and strong international track record, making them the team expected to take the early advantage in Stage 2.
Passion UA form. What result can be expected from Passion UA
Our betting tips and CS2 picks for the Passion UA vs FaZe matchup begin with analyzing Passion UA form. The team was formed in 2023 and immediately reached the B and C-tier level. In the 2023 season, Passion UA participated in a small number of tournaments without notable results.
- Passion UA roster: Kvem, JT, Grim, hallzerk, nicx.
The 2024 season turned out to be very successful for the team. Passion UA, like most teams of this level, started with numerous qualifiers and although without major achievements, they still made their first statements at the professional level.
The first successful tournaments were United21 Season 12 and European Pro League Season 14, where the team placed 2nd and 3rd respectively. Passion UA solidified their success with 3rd place at United21 Season 13 and 2nd place at Gameinside.ua ROG Spring Cup 2024.
After a series of mid-level tournament performances, they made their mark at RES European Series #3, finishing 3rd–4th.
The team’s first tournament victory came with 1st place at European Pro League Season 16. Although there were no top-tier teams at the event, Passion UA gained valuable experience.
A breakthrough in their level of play happened at RES European Series #6. Passion UA secured their first wins against stronger opponents and even defeated NiP 2-0. They eventually placed 2nd in the tournament.
Following that, the team confidently won European Pro League Season 17, defeating 9INE 3-0 in the grand final.
The team continued competing in qualifiers and B and C-tier tournaments, occasionally showing good results. Their main success in the middle of the season was 4th place at Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024: European Qualifier B.
Passion UA once again confirmed their status as one of the strongest B and C-tier teams with a victory at European Pro League Season 19 and a 2nd place at CCT Season 2 European Series #13, where they managed to beat ESTATIC and 3DMAX.
Since the team finished 4th at Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024: European Qualifier B, they advanced to Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024: European RMR B, where they unexpectedly defeated VP, Team Spirit, and Astralis, placed 6th, and qualified for their first Major.
At Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024, they achieved wins over Complexity Gaming and MIBR, but ended the Opening Stage with a 2-3 record, finishing 10th in the stage and 17th–19th in the tournament overall.
In the 2025 season, Passion UA continued playing at mid-level tournaments, but with slightly better success. Among the team’s main results so far are 1st place at Galaxy Battle 2025 // Phase 1 and Glitched Masters 2025, as well as 2nd place at Rainbet Cup and YaLLa Compass Spring 2025.
Passion UA also played at StarLadder StarSeries Fall 2025. In the Upper Bracket Quarterfinals, the team defeated Gentle Mates, but in the Upper Bracket Semifinals, they lost to NAVI and dropped to the lower bracket. In the Lower Bracket Quarterfinals, Passion UA faced another Ukrainian team, B8, and were eliminated from the tournament after losing, finishing in 5th-6th place.
Passion UA Map Pool
Over the past three months, Passion UA has shown the most success on Dust2, winning 66.7% of their matches, followed by Train at 57.1%. On Nuke, which they often use as a first ban, their win rate is 55.6%, while Overpass stands at 50%. The team has struggled more on Inferno (36.4%) and Ancient (33.3%), and Mirage has been a challenging map when picked first, with a 0% win rate. These results highlight where Passion UA is most comfortable and where FaZe might find opportunities to exploit weaknesses.
FaZe Clan form. What result can be expected from FaZe Clan
Team FaZe Clan in 2025 remains one of the most recognizable and competitive organizations in CS2. Starting as a content-focused clan in 2010, FaZe has grown into a top esports brand, known for blending experienced players with high-level talent. The team continues to focus on staying competitive at international events while adapting to the evolving CS2 meta.
The 2025 roster balances experience and skill: Helvijs “broky” Saukants provides consistent rifling and solid fragging; Finn “karrigan” Andersen leads as captain and IGL, directing strategy and coordination; David “frozen” Čerňanský offers flexible map control and reliable aim; Jakub “jcobbb” Pietruszewski brings adaptable rifling and steady performance; and Russel “Twistzz” Van Dulken adds clutch potential and precision. Coach Filip “NEO” Kubski guides tactics and team communication, keeping the squad coordinated.
- Team FaZe Clan 2025 roster: broky, karrigan, frozen, jcobbb, Twistzz.
In 2025, FaZe Clan has had mixed results in tournaments. They finished 7th–8th at CS Asia Championships 2025 ($10,000), 4th at ESL Pro League Season 22 ($22,000), and 5th–6th at BLAST Open Fall 2025 ($20,000). Online, they placed 3rd–4th in the BLAST Open Fall 2025: Closed Qualifier. Other events like the Esports World Cup 2025 (9th–16th, $20,000), BLAST Bounty Fall 2025: Closed Qualifier (9th–16th, $2,500), and IEM Cologne 2025 (7th–8th, $24,000) showed areas for improvement. Earlier in the year, they took 5th–8th at BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 ($45,000), 9th–12th at IEM Dallas 2025 ($5,000), and 5th–6th at BLAST Rivals Spring 2025 ($25,000).
FaZe Clan’s strength comes from the combination of experienced leadership and skilled players. karrigan directs the team on and off the map, broky and jcobbb provide reliable firepower, frozen adds flexibility, and Twistzz can turn rounds in clutch moments. This mix helps FaZe stay competitive internationally, though the team is still looking for more consistent top finishes in major S-tier tournaments.
FaZe Clan Map Pool
Over the past three months, FaZe Clan has shown clear preferences and performance patterns across their map pool. Mirage has been their strongest map, boasting a 69.2% win rate, highlighting their comfort and tactical execution there. Ancient and Dust2 follow with moderate success at 54.5% and 50%, showing that the team can adapt and perform on different layouts. Inferno and Nuke have proven more challenging, with win rates of 44.4% and 42.9%, indicating room for improvement in mid-round control and site execution. Overpass and Train have been weaker areas: Overpass has yet to yield a victory, while Train is consistently used as a first ban, suggesting strategic avoidance rather than reliance.
Head-to-head History: FaZe vs Passion UA
It’s worth noting that one of the players currently on Passion UA previously competed for Complexity Gaming and was part of the roster during their notable encounters with FaZe Clan. During that period, the player contributed to matches where Complexity achieved 6 wins out of 15 official games against FaZe, including a standout 2‑0 victory at the PGL Bucharest Swiss Stage 2025 (Dust II 13‑7, Anubis 13‑10). This experience gives the player valuable insight into FaZe’s strategies and tendencies, which could prove important in the upcoming BO1 clash.
Predicted result of the match FaZe – Passion UA at StarLadder Budapest Major 2025
FaZe Clan enters this BO1 as the clear favorite, thanks to their experience, structured play, and strong individual skill across all roles. Having already played five matches in Stage 1, FaZe is warmed up and familiar with the tournament conditions, giving them an additional advantage. Passion UA, on the other hand, will be playing their first match at a Major, which could make it harder to adapt quickly under pressure. While Passion UA’s fast-paced and unpredictable style could create some challenges, FaZe’s coordination and map control are likely to prevail, making them the most probable winners in this encounter.
Prediction: FaZe win.
