What To Expect From The StarLadder Budapest CS2 Major – Stage 1 [Part 2]

Let’s jump back into our rundown of all of the teams in Stage 1 of the StarLadder Budapest Major.

PARIVISION

Jame time is back! The enigmatic and sometimes frustrating IGL and Major MVP returns to the biggest of stages with a team of young riflers behind him – a prospect that should concern any team looking to best PARIVISION easily. With his signature style of slow, methodical, incisive Counter-Strike, Dzhami “Jame” Ali looks to find impact in a Major after a while away from Tier 1 CS.

PARIVISION definitely have the capacity to overcome a lot of opponents in Stage 1, and even further into the tournament. One of the most enjoyable things about Jame’s style is that, when it works, it’s a real headache for even the best teams in the world to overcome. Heading into the opening stage, it seems likely that they’ll do quite well. Are they a guaranteed 3:0 candidate? I don’t think so. But there’s a fair chance of them progression to Stage 2.

FlyQuest

FlyQuest. The bane of my pickems. When I pick them to go through, they don’t. When I pick them to go out, they don’t. FlyQuest are the kind of team that has the capacity to pull off crazy upsets, grind out impressive victories, and lose games that leave you scratching your head and wondering what you just watched.

With their recent pickup of veteran rifler and Aussie GOAT Justin “jks” Savage, one would be forgiven for assuming that their floor had raised significantly. However, they have lost some surprising matchups of late, with GenOne and BASEMENT BOYS picking up 2:1 victories over them in DraculaN Season 2.

As always, FlyQuest are a gamble. They might do well. They might crash and burn. One thing that’s certain is that they’ll do whatever my pickems suggest they won’t do. So, if you’re looking for pickems advice, I have them as going out of Stage 1, but not in the 0:3 bracket. Make of that what you will.

NRG

Captain America is at another Major! Nicholas “nitr0” Cannella is in Stage 1 with NRG. This team is a fascinating mix of players. On paper, it looks a touch chaotic, but it undoubtedly seems to be working. Of course, you have the long-time IGL nitr0. You have Aran “Sonic” Groesbeek, who has landed on his feet in Tier 2 CS after being benched from Wildcard earlier this year. Ex-Astralis rookie Alexander “br0” Bro bolsters the ranks, alongside solid rifler eorge “Jeorge” Endicott. Zechrie “XotiC” Elshani wields the Big Green, replacing Joshua “oSee” Ohm after NRG’s lacklustre run in Austin.

This team definitely has the capacity to take some names, but calling them a guaranteed pick for progressing past the opening stage would be slightly questionable.

Fluxo

Fluxo are another interesting prospect heading into the opening stage of the Budapest Major. Led by veteran caller Andrei “arT” Piovezan, this is a team that appears, at least on the surface, to have been cobbled together with players who have struggled to find a home elsewhere. Lucas “Lucaozy” Neves has returned to the team after an ill-fated run with MIBR. Lucas “decenty” Bacelar arrived after his surprise benching from Imperial. Romeu “zevy” Rocco returned to the main roster at the start of the year after having been benched, and Kayke “kye” Bertolucci landed in Fluxo after an unsuccessful stint in FURIA.

Fluxo are by no means a bad team. On their day, they can play an exciting and explosive brand of Counter-Strike, and can pull off some impressive victories. Having said that, betting on them to make it through to Stage 2 is a risky one. If they start strong, they definitely have what it takes, but if they have a slow start, they might just be unable to recover the momentum in time.

Imperial

Imperial are another team that are coming into Stage 1 without being clearly capable of going through easily. Of course, they’re more than capable of taking some significant scalps. Marcelo “chelo” Cespedes and Felipe “skullz” Medeiros found their way onto the roster after a stint with FURIA, and undoubtedly bring some solid Tier 1 experience. Vinicius “VINI” Figueiredo, on a good day, can call some fun rounds and pull the team through the quagmire of force-wars that Bo1s can devolve into. However, they have struggled to find solid form of late, and are coming into this event with something to prove, after benching decenty earlier in the year.

RED Canids

RED Canids come into the StarLadder Budapest Major as the lowest-ranked Brazilian team in attendance, with little expectations or pressure behind them. Having made significant roster changes, removing the old core of Henrique “HEN1” Teles, Marcelo “coldzera” David, and João “felps” Vasconcellos and replacing them with Kaue “kauez” Kaschuk, Richard “chayJESUS” Seidy, and Allan “history” Lawrenz, RED Canids have set about building their system and grinding out regional events. Their results haven’t been incredible, but a few 3rd and 2nd place finishes in regional tournaments have seen them grind out the VRS needed for their invite to the Major. Are they a favorite to go through to Stage 2? No. Could they? We’ll have to wait and see…

The Huns

Unfortunately, there always has to be one or two teams who are generally considered to be the weakest of any given stage of a tournament, and The Huns are probably a fair bet for that unwanted accolade. The second-best team out of Mongolia (behind, of course, The MongolZ), The Huns are by no means bad. One their day, they can shoot hard and be an absolute nuisance to deal with in the server (we all remember a Yesuntumur “nin9” Gantulga deagle clip…). However, they’re certainly coming into the Major without an awful lot of expectations. Other teams will be eyeing them up as a potentially simple win, so The Huns will have to come in ready to turn the underdog assumptions to their favor. If they are underestimated, they can certainly cause some upsets. One to keep your eye on, for sure.

Rare Atom

Finally, we have Rare Atom. This team is probably in the same bracket as The Huns in terms of being on the weaker side of the bracket. They are a consistently strong team within their region, but whenever they play against bigger opponents, they typically tend to struggle. However, if their star player Junhao “ChildKing” Peng turns up on form, they can definitely do some damage. They’re likely going to have a tough time of it in the Major, but as always – it’s Bo1s, and every team in this event has earned the right to be there.

So, this is the end of our rundown of expectations for Stage 1 of the StarLadder Budapest Major. Will it be fun? Absolutely. Will there be upsets? Almost certainly. Will FlyQuest ruin my pickems again? Undoubtedly. As you wait for the Major to start, don’t forget to keep up the hard work! Brush up on your utility, refresh yourself on the intricacies of team Counter-Strike, and remember – keep a healthy routine as you get on that solo-queue grind!