CS2: StarLadder Budapest Major 2025, 19 newcomers step into the brutal slaughterground for the first time.

StarLadder Budapest Major 2025, one of the S-tier tournaments, is the last stop of the CS2 season and attracts a lot of attention. Perhaps it is related to the participants. This is not a competition between veteran players. The comments on various forums have almost described it as an evergreen versus a sapling.

In other words, new blood challenges veterans; will the former carve out their own territory, while the latter rely on years of experience to hold on? In this battle of aggressive advancement versus steady progress, whose moves and strategies are truly superior? This tournament will prove to the audience the potential of rising stars, and similarly, whether veterans who have reached their peak can withstand the test of time. Reality is harsh; esports is too age-dependent.

Regardless, this Major features 160 players, 19 of whom are making their debut. Notably, the largest number of players are from Russia. The first phase of the competition includes teams such as FaZe, PARIVISION, NIP, RED Canids, NRG, Rare Atom, GamerLegion, and The Huns. All eight teams have rookie debuts, creating a tense atmosphere with numerous highlights. These are all dark horses of the year. Kyousuke, hailed by netizens as the successor to Donk, and Jame, the MVP of IEM Rio Major 2022, will lead four rookies from PARIVISION in this major tournament.

In the second phase, teams like Passion UA, NAVI, and MIBR will be participating, along with newcomers making their Major debuts. It remains to be seen whether the veterans will be more or less established. The competition among these newcomers alone is enough to draw everyone's attention and keep them focused on the schedule and progress of the tournament.