The Counter-Strike community gathered in Budapest to close out the year with a Major full of tension and storylines. The opening three stages delivered plenty of surprises and emotions, all chronicled through the photographic work of Josip "brcho" Brtan and Radosław "MAKKU" Makuch, who documented key moments from the arena and behind the scenes.
Stage 1 began on November 24 and immediately produced one of the tournament's biggest narratives: the struggles of FaZe against teams ranked well below them. Finn "karrigan" Andersen's side stumbled early, suffering a loss to an NRG roster led by coach Damian "daps" Steele. The shockwaves continued as Legacy and GamerLegion, both expected to put up stiffer resistance, were eliminated in surprising fashion, exiting the Major far sooner than fans anticipated.
Stage 2 raised the stakes further with more upsets and emotional swings. The sudden exit of Aurora was a headline-grabbing upset that reshaped the bracket. Team Liquid, another marquee name, found themselves under pressure as they struggled to find form. Amid the shocks, PARIVISION emerged as a feel-good story, advancing and capturing the imagination of supporters with spirited performances.
When Stage 3 kicked off, the tournament saw many of the heavyweights enter the fray, bringing a new intensity to the competition. Emotions ran particularly high for local favorite Ádám "torzsi" Torzsás, whose performances drew loud reactions from the home crowd. The presence of top teams and passionate fans combined to create an electric atmosphere around the playoffs push.
By the time the majority of pre-tournament favorites had navigated the opening phases, the results set up a compelling playoff bracket. With established contenders joining form teams that had risen from the early rounds, the tournament promise shifted from surprise results to an eagerly anticipated run toward the title, offering matchups that many observers called mouth-watering.
Across all three stages, the Major in Budapest delivered a mix of expected outcomes and genuine shocks, from FaZe's uneasy start to the Cinderella runs and local heroes making waves. The event's opening acts laid the groundwork for a dramatic finish, and the scenes captured by the event photographers reflected both the competitive ferocity and the human side of the tournament.