What Went Down at Austin + What to Watch for in Budapest
2025 was a wild year for Counter-Strike 2. From shocking upsets to clutch plays, the two Majors delivered everything fans crave, and then some. Here’s a recap of the highlights you need to remember, and why CS2 collectors, bettors, and fans should keep their eyes peeled going into the next Major.
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🎯 2025 Majors at a Glance
Here are the two Majors that defined 2025
| Major | Dates | Location | Winner / Key Facts |
|---|---|---|---|
| BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 | June 3 – June 22, 2025 | Austin, Texas, USA (Moody Center) | Champions: Team Vitality. Runners-up: The MongolZ. Tournament MVP: Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut. |
| StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 | November 24 – December 14, 2025 | Budapest, Hungary (MTK Sportpark group stages; MVM Dome playoffs) | The tournament is ongoing / recent — full results pending, but anticipation for big plays and surprises is high. |
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These two events bookended the year and defined the competitive rhythm of CS2 in 2025: Austin kicked things off. Budapest closes the year with high stakes, renewed hopes, and hungry contenders.
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🔥 Top Moments from Austin Major 2025
The BLAST.tv Austin Major delivered early — and delivered hard. Here are some of the defining plays, matches, and storylines that stood out.
• ZywOo MVP Run: Reinforcing His Legend
ZywOo once again proved why he is among the best in the world. His consistent performance throughout the tournament earned him the MVP title for Austin 2025. For CS2 fans and skin traders alike: when ZywOo shines, sticker prices of his loadouts tend to spike.
• The MongolZ Surge and Finalters
The MongolZ, long considered underdogs, stormed to the final, defying expectations and upsetting many stronger teams on their path. Their unexpected run brought fresh energy to the tournament and gave fans some of the most unpredictable matches of the year.
• Nail-Biting Clutches and Jaw-Dropping Plays
From clutch 1v4s to last-second bomb defuses, the Austin Major delivered moments that got the crowd and stream chat jumping. These plays aren’t just hype for fans — they shape which players get spotlighted, which in turn affects impact on skin demand and memorabilia value.
• Record Viewership and Growing Global Hype
The Austin Major didn’t just impress on the server. Streaming numbers surged. One of the Day 1 matches between Imperial Esports and B8 Esports peaked at nearly 300,000 viewers — showing that CS2’s global competitive appetite is very much alive.
🌍 What Makes the Budapest Major 2025 Exciting
With the second Major of the year coming in Budapest, the CS2 scene is gearing up for possibly the biggest finale of 2025. Here’s what to watch for and why this Major could be explosive.
• First 32-Team Invite-Only Major Under StarLadder
The Budapest Major 2025 marks the fourth CS2 Major overall and the second hosted by StarLadder. For the first time under this format, all 32 teams get direct invites. That means no more grueling snowball qualifier runs; teams arrive fresh, rosters set, meta locked, creating a more level, high-stakes battlefield.
• First Best-of-Five Grand Final in CS2 Major History
StarLadder confirmed the Grand Final will be played as a best-of-five series. That’s a first for CS2 Majors and raises the stakes spectacularly: more maps, more comebacks, more chance for legends to rise or fall.
• Huge Prize Pool and Major Sticker Drop Cycle
The prize pool remains at $1.25 million but more importantly for collectors, the Major brings a fresh wave of sticker capsules, souvenir drops, and skin demand. Every deep playoff run or upset can send certain skins skyrocketing in demand.
• Massive Tournament Storylines: Roster Shuffles, Underdog Chances, Carry Plays
With top-tier teams and hungry challengers alike, Budapest 2025 is a stage for breakout stars, career-defining performances, and Cinderella stories. Fans should watch for underdog runs, surprise upsets, and clutch moments that could shape 2026’s skin economy and competitive trends.
Why 2025’s Majors Matter for Fans, Collectors and Traders
This season’s Majors weren’t just about who won. They reshaped CS2’s competitive meta and skin economy.
- Players and Stars: Great performances like ZywOo’s MVP run or The MongolZ’s upset run raise the value of their skins, signatures, and souvenirs.
- Skin Market Ripples: Majors bring fresh sticker capsules and souvenir packages, which can quickly become long-term collector items.
- Content Surge: Majors fuel content: match highlight videos, case opening streams, sticker trading guides, recaps. Content consumption spikes.
- New Fanbase Growth: With record viewership and global reach, more new players join and look for skins which boosts demand across the board.
For the DaddySkins audience fans, traders, collectors… 2025 was one of the richest years yet.
What to Watch Next: The End of 2025 and 2026 on Deck
As Budapest 2025 wraps the competitive year, 2026 already looks stacked. Expect two Majors: the traditional Summer Major and a Winter final. That pattern gives you two massive peaks to prepare for:
- Major-driven sticker and skin cycles
- New roster moves and breakout players
- Seasonal hype, including holiday-time skin demand
For content creators, traders, and fans; that means more chances for high value drops, new esports narratives, and big market moves.
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