MOUZ, Team Spirit, FURIA, G2 start Stage 3 strong in Budapest

MOUZ, Team Spirit, FURIA and G2 Esports separated themselves from the pack to kick off Stage 3 of the StarLadder Budapest Major event in Hungary on Thursday.

Those teams, who were among the eight clubs to receive byes directly into Stage 3, won their Round 1 and Round 2 matches Thursday to advance to the Round 3 High matches. One more win will push them into the playoffs.

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 Thursday, MOUZ edged PARIVISION 16-14 in overtime on Overpass before beating B8 13-6, also on Overpass. Israel's Dorian "xertioN" Berman led MOUZ in the latter match with 20 kills on a plus-13 differential.

Spirit defeated Team Liquid 13-8 on Train and FaZe Clan 13-5 on Dust II. Russia's Danil "donk" Kryshkovets had 18 kills on a plus-11 K-D for Spirit in Round 2.

FURIA crushed Natus Vincere 13-2 on Nuke and followed that up with a 13-5 result on Dust II against Imperial Esports. In the latter match, Danil "molodoy" Golubenko of Kazakhstan powered FURIA with 16 kills on a plus-11.

Finally, G2 beat Passion UA 13-8 on Mirage and paiN Gaming 13-7 on Dust II. Spaniard Alvaro "SunPayus" Garcia led G2 in Round 2 with 20 kills on a stellar plus-13.

Team Vitality, Team Falcons, The MongolZ and Natus Vincere prevailed in their Round 2 Low matches to move into the Round 3 Mid matches.

Stage 3 continues Friday with eight matches:

--MOUZ vs. Team Spirit (Round 3 High)

--FURIA vs. G2 Esports (Round 3 High)

--FaZe Clan vs. The MongolZ (Round 3 Mid)

--B8 vs. Team Vitality (Round 3 Mid)

--paiN Gaming vs. Natus Vincere (Round 3 Mid)

--Imperial Esports vs. Team Falcons (Round 3 Mid)

--Team Liquid vs. Passion UA (Round 3 Low)

--PARIVISION vs. 3DMAX (Round 3 Low)

StarLadder Budapest Major Stage 3 standings

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

1. FURIA, 2-0, +19, 0

2. MOUZ, 2-0, +9, -2

3. Team Spirit, 2-0, +13, -2

4. G2 Esports, 2-0, +11, -2

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

6. B8, 1-1, -4, 2

7. Imperial Esports, 1-1, -6, 2

8. paiN Gaming, 1-1, -3, 0

9. Natus Vincere, 1-1, -4, 0

10. Team Vitality, 1-1, +3, -2

11. Team Falcons, 1-1, +5, -2

12. The MongolZ, 1-1, +2, -2

13. PARIVISION, 0-2, -9, 2

14. Team Liquid, 0-2, -9, 2

15. Passion UA, 0-2, -13, 2

16. 3DMAX, 0-2, -12, 0

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

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