Four teams jump to 2-0 starts in Stage 2 of StarLadder Budapest Major

FaZe Clan, Natus Vincere, B8 and Ninjas in Pyjamas won two matches apiece on Saturday to get off to a strong start in Stage 2 of the StarLadder Budapest Major.

Thirty-two teams began play in the $1.25 million Counter-Strike: Global Offensive event, which features three consecutive Swiss System stages ahead of the playoffs. Sixteen teams compete in each stage. Eight invited teams started in Stage 2, which runs through Tuesday, and eight more get a bye into Stage 3 (Dec. 4-7). The top eight teams in each stage move on.

In each Swiss System stage, elimination and advancement matches are best-of-three and all others are best-of-one.

The tournament concludes with a single-elimination playoff stage Dec. 11-14. All matches are best-of-three until the grand final, which is best-of-five. The winner will take home $500,000.

FaZe Clan defeated Passion UA 13-10 in Round 1 before topping Aurora Gaming by the same score in Round 2. Poland's Jakub "jcobbb" Pietruszewski paced FaZe Clan with a 41-34 kills-to-deaths differential.

Natus Vincere handled FlyQuest 13-2 in Round 1 and dropped Imperial Esports 13-10 in Round 2. Ukraine's Valeriy "b1t" Vakhovskiy (40-16) and Ihor "w0nderful" Zhdanov (41-19) dominated for Natus Vincere.

B8 took care of Team Liquid 13-7 in Round 1 before edging Fnatic 13-11 in Round 2. Daniil "headtr1ck" Valitov of Ukraine led the way with 35 kills versus 21 deaths.

Ninjas in Pyjamas became the fourth unbeaten team with a 13-10 first-round win over Astralis before prevailing 13-8 in Round 2 over TYLOO. Denmark's Rasmus "sjuush" Beck contributed 40 kills to 24 deaths to lead NIP.

In second-round low matches on Saturday, 3DMax topped FlyQuest 13-7, M80 edged Astralis 13-11, Passion UA defeated MIBR 13-10 and PARIVISION beat Team Liquid 13-3.

Stage 2 continues Sunday with Round 3 play. The 16 teams have been separated into three divisions by record, so FaZe Clan (2-0) meets Ninjas in Pyjamas (2-0), and Natus Vincere (2-0) takes on B8 (2-0) in the high matches.

Here's the rest of the schedule:

Mid matches:

TYLOO (1-1) vs. M80 (1-1)

Passion UA (1-1) vs. 3DMAX (1-1)

Aurora Gaming (1-1) vs. PARIVISION (1-1)

Fnatic (1-1) vs. Imperial Esports (1-1)

Low matches:

Team Liquid (0-2) vs. MIBR (0-2)

FlyQuest (0-2) vs. Astralis (0-2)

STANDINGS

TEAM W-L RD Buchholz Score

1. FaZe Clan 2-0 +6 0

2. Natus Vincere 2-0 +14 -2

3. B8 2-0 +8 -2

4. Ninjas in Pyjamas 2-0 +8 -2

5. Aurora Gaming 1-1 +4 2

6. TYLOO 1-1 +3 2

7. Fnatic 1-1 +5 2

8. Passion UA 1-1 0 0

9. Imperial Esports 1-1 +5 0

10. 3DMAX 1-1 -1 -2

11. M80 1-1 -5 -2

12. PARIVISION 1-1 +2 -2

13. Team Liquid 0-2 -16 2

14. Astralis 0-2 -5 2

15. FlyQuest 0-2 -17 2

16. MIBR 0-2 -11 0

--Field Level Media