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We turn our attention to Day 2 of Stage 1 at the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025, one of the standout offline CS2 events of the season. With a $1,250,000 prize pool on the line, the action continues at MTK Sportpark, while the decisive playoff battles await at the iconic MVM Dome in Budapest, Hungary.
Today, fnatic and Imperial Esports meet in a pivotal matchup, as both teams enter the second day of the Swiss stage with a 1–1 record. fnatic will look to rely on their structured approach and discipline to secure a much-needed victory, while Imperial aim to impose their trademark aggression and confidence to gain the upper hand.
This encounter promises to be tense and highly competitive, with both sides fighting for a crucial win that could significantly boost their chances of progressing deeper into the tournament.
How The Bookies View It: Fnatic Slightly Favoured
According to the bookmakers, fnatic enter the matchup as slight favourites, with odds of 1.68, while Imperial are priced at 2.16. The margin is small, but it reflects the community’s belief in fnatic’s more stable structure and recent form. Still, the gap is far from decisive, and with both teams sitting at 1–1 in the Swiss stage, Imperial have every opportunity to challenge the odds and turn this best-of-one into a tight and unpredictable contest.
Fnatic CS2 form. What result can be expected from Fnatic
Fnatic in 2025 continues its effort to rebuild and reclaim its position among Europe’s elite CS2 teams. The organization has undergone significant restructuring throughout the year, focusing on balancing experience and youthful energy within its lineup. Early in 2025, Fnatic introduced several roster changes, including the arrival of Rodion “Fear” Smyk as the new in-game leader — a move aimed at improving tactical depth and mid-round coordination. The team also brought in new talents like Jambo and Jackasmo, while experienced players such as KRIMZ and blameF remain the backbone of the squad.
- Fnatic’s 2025 roster: KRIMZ, blameF, Fear, Jambo, Jackasmo.
The mix of veterans and newer players has given Fnatic a fresh identity. KRIMZ brings experience and composure, while blameF’s leadership and steady play help keep the team structured. Fear adds strategic stability with his disciplined calling, and Jambo and Jackasmo bring aggressive plays and strong aim, giving the squad some dynamic options.
Coaching changes have also played a role this year. After parting ways with long-time coach Peter “casle” Ardenskjold, Fnatic promoted Miks “Independent” Siliņš to head coach. Independent has focused on flexibility, better communication, and adapting strategies to opponents.
In 2025, Fnatic’s results have been mixed. They won Frag Blocktober 2025 (B-Tier, 1st place, 3:2, $5,500), showing they can perform under pressure. But in bigger tournaments like PGL Masters Bucharest 2025 (12th–14th, 0:2, $9,375) and CS Asia Championships 2025 (5th–6th, 1:2, $20,000), they struggled and exited early. Other events, such as Birch Cup 2025 (5th–8th), showed glimpses of potential but also that the team is still working on consistency.
Fnatic’s strengths are solid map control, structured play, and staying calm under pressure. KRIMZ and blameF provide experience, while Jambo and Jackasmo add creativity and firepower. Still, roster changes and adapting to Independent’s style have made it hard to maintain long-term stability.
Looking ahead, Fnatic’s goal is to stabilize the roster, improve communication, and make deeper runs in major tournaments. With the mix of veterans, new talent, and a focused coach, they have the tools to grow. If they keep improving their teamwork, Fnatic could soon be a top contender again in the global CS2 scene.
Fnatic Map Pool
Over the past three months, Fnatic have demonstrated a solid and balanced map pool in CS2, showing consistent results across multiple maps. Their strongest performance has come on Train, where they maintain an impressive 72% win rate when picked as their first map, showcasing strong coordination and tactical depth. Overpass and Ancient follow closely with 58.3% and 57.9% win rates respectively, indicating Fnatic’s comfort on structured and strategy-heavy maps. Meanwhile, Dust2 (56.2%), Mirage (54.5%), and Inferno (53.8%) also remain reliable choices, with the team showing versatility and the ability to adapt to different playstyles. This even map distribution highlights Fnatic’s balanced approach — they don’t rely heavily on a single map, instead maintaining competitive strength across the board.
Imperial CS2 form. What result can be expected from Imperial
Imperial Esports in 2025 remain one of the most recognisable Brazilian teams, continuing their effort to stay competitive on both regional and international CS2 stages. Throughout the year, the organisation has focused on developing a stable roster capable of mixing raw firepower with tactical discipline. The team went through several changes across 2024–2025, aiming to refresh its identity after inconsistent results. By early 2025, Imperial built a lineup around Vinicius “VINI” Figueiredo, who now leads the squad as in-game leader, bringing structure, experience, and a calm approach to mid-round decision-making. Alongside him, the organisation kept promising talents like noway and try, while players such as chelo and skullz strengthen the team with aggressive entries and consistent rifling.
- Imperial’s 2025 roster: VINI, noway, try, chelo, skullz.
This lineup offers a well-balanced mix of leadership and mechanical skill. VINI provides stability and calling discipline, try remains the main firepower in AWP duels, chelo adds explosive tempo in early rounds, while skullz and noway bring steady support and clutch potential. Together, they form a roster that reflects the classic Brazilian CS2 style — emotional, energetic, and dangerous when they gain momentum.
On the coaching side, Imperial continue working with Rafael “zakk” Fernandes, who focuses on improving mid-round reactions, individual decision-making and adapting the team’s playstyle to the unpredictable nature of the current CS2 meta. His approach has helped the squad gain more structure in recent tournaments, especially in high-pressure situations.
The team’s results in 2025 show both progress and growing pains. Imperial delivered strong runs in regional competitions, including a victory at FiReLEAGUE Buenos Aires 2025, one of their key accomplishments this year. They also reached top positions at tournaments like Circuito FERJEE 2025 (1st place, 2:0, $28,643) and made deep runs in FERJEE Rush 2025 (2nd place). On the international scene, they qualified for the CS Asia Championships 2025 through the Americas Open Qualifier, proving they can still compete for spots at bigger events. However, the team struggled at higher-tier tournaments such as Thunderpick World Championship 2025, DreamHack Knockout Atlanta 2025, and BLAST Open Fall 2025, often falling short against top-15 opponents.
Despite mixed results, Imperial’s main strengths remain unchanged: strong chemistry, emotional momentum, explosive entry plays, and the ability to dominate opponents in chaotic mid-rounds. Their weaknesses are tied to consistency and map depth — issues that the team has been actively working on as the season progresses. With VINI’s leadership and a roster full of mechanically gifted players, Imperial still carry the potential to break into the global top tier if they stabilise form and continue refining their strategies.
Looking ahead, the organisation’s goal is to regain a stable footing in A- and S-Tier events, build more confidence on key maps, and translate regional success into deeper international runs. With their blend of youthful energy, experience, and a dedicated coaching staff, Imperial remain a team capable of surprising favourites and making impactful runs on the global CS2 scene.
Imperial Map Pool
Imperial’s map pool over the past three months looks fairly balanced, with the team showing solid performances across most maps. Their strongest map has been Overpass, where they hold a 75% win rate, reflecting confidence in both their executes and late-round coordination. Mirage follows with a respectable 64.3%, suggesting the team is comfortable in more open, aim-heavy environments. On Dust2, Inferno, and Train, Imperial sit at 57.1%, indicating stable but not dominant form. Meanwhile, Nuke remains their most challenging map at 54.5%, though the team still manages to stay above the 50% mark. Overall, the statistics show a team with a wide and reliable map pool, capable of competing on most battlegrounds without clear weaknesses.
Head-to-head: Fnatic vs Imperial
Historically, Fnatic has dominated their matchups against Imperial, winning all recorded encounters. In their most recent meeting at the FiReLEAGUE Global Final on June 15, 2024, Fnatic secured a 2-1 victory in a Bo3 series. The map scores for that match were Inferno 13-8 to Fnatic, Mirage 13-10 to Imperial, and Dust2 13-11 to Fnatic. Overall, across their head-to-head history, Fnatic has claimed 3 wins while Imperial has yet to win a match, with a total map score of 6-2 in favor of Fnatic.
Predicted result of the match Fnatic – Imperial at StarLadder Budapest Major 2025
The upcoming Bo1 clash between Fnatic and Imperial at the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 is expected to be highly competitive, with both teams looking to bounce back after starting the Swiss stage with a 1–1 record. Fnatic enter the match as slight favourites, with bookmakers giving them odds of 1.68, reflecting the team’s more stable structure, experience, and tactical depth. Veterans like KRIMZ and blameF provide calm leadership, while newer talents such as Jambo and Jackasmo add aggressive firepower and unpredictability, giving Fnatic a balanced approach on almost any map. Their recent map performance indicates a strong showing on Train, Overpass, and Ancient, while Dust2, Mirage, and Inferno remain solid choices where the team can adapt to Imperial’s playstyle.
Imperial, on the other hand, are known for their fast-paced, aggressive Brazilian style. Led by VINI, the team combines mechanical skill with emotional momentum, often turning chaotic rounds into opportunities. Players like try, chelo, skullz, and noway complement each other with consistent rifling, explosive entries, and clutch potential. Imperial’s recent results show strong regional performances, including victories at FiReLEAGUE Buenos Aires 2025 and Circuito FERJEE 2025, proving that they are capable of challenging higher-tier opponents. Their map pool is wide and reliable, with particularly high win rates on Overpass and Mirage, and stable results on Dust2, Inferno, Train, and Nuke, making them a threat on multiple battlegrounds.
Historically, Fnatic have dominated Imperial in head-to-head encounters, winning all recorded matches, including a 2-1 Bo3 victory at the FiReLEAGUE Global Final 2024. The map scores (Inferno 13-8, Mirage 13-10, Dust2 13-11) highlight Imperial’s ability to take maps off Fnatic, showing that while the European side is favoured, the Brazilians can compete strongly if they gain momentum.
In this Bo1 format, the margin for error is minimal. Fnatic’s structured play, experience, and map control give them a slight edge, but Imperial’s aggression and potential for early-round dominance make an upset entirely possible. The match is likely to be tense and fast-paced, with both teams needing to execute their strategies perfectly to secure the win. Overall, while Fnatic are predicted to edge out Imperial, expect a close and unpredictable encounter where individual plays and early rounds could decide the outcome.
Prediction: Fnatic win.
