FURIA, Spirit advance to StarLadder Budapest Major playoffs

Team Spirit and FURIA became the first two teams to qualify for the StarLadder Budapest Major playoffs, winning third-round high matches in Stage 3 on Friday in Hungary.

Spirit edged MOUZ 2-1 before FURIA swept G2 Esports 2-0.

In third-round mid matches, The MongolZ downed FaZe Clan 13-7 on Mirage, Team Vitality took down B8 13-2 on Inferno, Team Falcons trounced Imperial Esports 13-1 on Mirage, and Natus Vincere dumped paiN Gaming 13-8 on Dust II.

The third-round low matches saw Passion UA eliminate Team Liquid 2-0 and 3DMAX rally past PARIVISION 2-1.

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 ended Tuesday, and eight more got a bye into Stage 3 (Thursday through Sunday). 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.

On Friday, Spirit opened with a 13-5 victory on Mirage before MOUZ equalized by taking Train 13-10. Spirit prevailed 13-11 on the decisive third map, Overpass.

Russia's Danil "donk" Kryshkovets logged 63 kills and a 1.51 rating for Spirit. Israel's Dorian "xertioN" Berman recorded 44 kills and a 0.96 rating.

FURIA rolled past G2 Esports 13-6 on Inferno, 13-10 on overpass behind 36 kills and a 1.56 rating from Brazil's Kaike "KSCERATO" Cerato. Israel's Nikita "HeavyGod" Martynenko amassed 32 kills and a 1.21 rating for G2 Esports.

The Saturday schedule:

--Round 4 high match -- Natus Vincere vs. Team Vitality

--Round 4 high match -- MOUZ vs. Team Falcons

--Round 4 high match -- G2 Esports vs. The MongolZ

--Round 4 low match -- B8 vs. paiN Gaming

--Round 4 low match -- Passion UA vs. Imperial Esports

--Round 4 low match -- 3DMAX vs. FaZe Clan

StarLadder Budapest Major Stage 3 standings

(Team W-L, round difference, Buchholz score)

1. FURIA, 3-0, +29, 1

2. Team Spirit, 3-0, +20, -3

3. G2 Esports, 2-1, +1, 1

4. MOUZ, 2-1, +2, -1

5. Natus Vincere, 2-1, +1, -1

6. Team Vitality, 2-1, +14, -3

7. Team Falcons, 2-1, +17, -3

8. The MongolZ, 2-1, +8, -5

9. FaZe Clan, 1-2, -8, 5

10. Imperial Esports, 1-2, -18, 5

11. B8, 1-2, -15, 3

12. paiN Gaming, 1-2, -8, 1

13. Passion UA, 1-2, -8, -1

14. 3DMAX, 1-2, -6, -3

15. Team Liquid, 0-3, -14, 3

16. PARIVISION, 0-3, -15, 1

StarLadder Budapest Major prize pool

1. $500,000

2. $170,000

3-4. $80,000

5-8. $45,000

9-11. $20,000

12-14. $20,000

15-16. $20,000 -- Team Liquid, PARIVISION

17-19. $10,000 -- Ninjas in Pyjamas, M80, Astralis

20-22. $10,000 -- Fnatic, Aurora Gaming, TYLOO

23-24. $10,000 -- MIBR, FlyQuest

25-27. No money -- Legacy, Fluxo, NRG

28-30. No money -- RED Canids, The Huns Esports, GamerLegion

31-32. No money -- Lynn Vision Gaming, Rare Atom

--Field Level Media