
Blast Rivals Season 2 delivered one of the most stacked Counter Strike events of the year, and once again the storyline circling the tier one space is the same: Vitality are playing great CS2 in stretches, but continue failing to convert their advantages, while FURIA and Falcons look ready to peak just eight days before the Starladder Budapest Major.

Vitality’s semifinal loss to Falcons was the latest addition to a worrying trend. The apEX-led squad jumped to a solid lead on Inferno, created multiple openings, and generated several 5v4 scenarios. Yet they once again let go of winning positions, dropping rounds they should have closed. Vitality’s habit of losing 5v1, 4v2, and 4v3 advantages has become one of the biggest CS2 talking points this month.

The struggles were already visible in the quarter final against Spirit, a match they won 2–1 in double overtime fashion but only after throwing a 1v5 on Nuke and nearly losing multiple rounds with the opening kill. Even flameZ admitted that the team still lacks clarity in key moments and needs more structured practice before the Major.
The same issues were present at IEM Chengdu, where Vitality reached the grand final but fell to FURIA 3–0. Every map was competitive and every map included moments where Vitality gained early advantages only to throw them away in mid and late round. They created openings against FURIA’s systems but could not convert, and that weakness is now defining their form.
Despite the repeated mid-round collapses, Vitality remain one of the most consistent CS2 teams in the world. They have reached four straight semi finals or finals, and their fundamentals still put them in title contention at every event. They just lack the killer instinct that made them dominant in late 2024 and early 2025.
While Vitality struggle to close rounds, FURIA are closing everything. Their 3–1 victory over Falcons in the Blast Rivals grand final gave the Brazilians their fourth trophy since the summer break and cemented them as a serious contender to win the Budapest Major.
YEKINDAR delivered a massive Nuke performance, molodoy shined with impact AWPing across the series, and KSCERATO continued his monstrous run with impossible clutches. The team’s map pool, confidence, and late-round composure make them one of the strongest CS2 squads heading into the Major.
Falcons defeated Vitality 2–0 in the semifinals, rallying back on Inferno thanks to a crucial m0NESY 1v3 ace clutch and a high-energy comeback. Their Nuke looked dominant, extending their strong streak on the map to six straight wins.

NiKo highlighted that Falcons have improved their mid-round discipline, slowed down when individuals are not firing, and learned to rely more on teamplay instead of reactive chaos. The squad is now playing confident, structured CS with star power to match any opponent.
With the Major starting in just eight days, the form from Blast Rivals and Chengdu raises big questions:
For Vitality:
For FURIA:
For Falcons:
Blast Rivals and Chengdu were LANs, but the Budapest Major is the proving ground. Every team arrives hungry, every mistake is amplified, and every round matters. If current form carries over, FURIA and Falcons enter Budapest as the two most dangerous forces, while Vitality remain the ultimate dark horse capable of anything from early struggle to a miraculous championship run.
The only certainty is that the Major will answer the biggest question of this cycle: Can Vitality finally convert their leads, or will FURIA’s era officially begin in Budapest.

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Xaxas
17.11.2025
Xaxas
17.11.2025