The first stage of the Counter-Strike Major delivered new records, plenty of highlights, and the eight teams advancing to Stage 2. Six StarLadder Budapest 2025 teams averaged more than 200,000 concurrent viewers across their matches: some drew massive interest on their own, while others benefited from being matched against high-demand opponents. Here are the five teams whose games attracted the largest audiences.
FaZe Clan emerged as the stage’s most popular team by a wide margin, narrowly securing their spot in the next phase. They were the only squad to approach the 300,000 Average Viewers mark, boosted both by their strong overall popularity among Counter-Strike fans and the high drama of several matches, particularly the showdown with Red Canids, where FaZe came dangerously close to elimination.
Red Canids take second place, despite already being eliminated from the tournament. They finished just 5% behind the top team in Average Viewers, ultimately falling to the very opponent that ended their run. The Brazilian roster drew huge support from their home audience, especially in their matches against Fnatic and FaZe.
FlyQuest take third place after a flawless Stage 1, advancing to the next phase without dropping a single map. Their high ranking is largely due to repeated pairings with Brazilian teams — one of the stage’s most active demographics — facing them in all three of their matches.
Legacy and PARIVISION take the fourth and fifth spots, separated by just 4,000 Average Viewers. The two teams produced arguably the most memorable matchup of Stage 1, with the Russian roster clawing their way into the next phase. The final map turned into a full-blown thriller with multiple overtimes, and PARI ultimately emerged victorious.
Stage 2 of the Major begins tomorrow, November 29, when the top performers from Stage 1 will be joined by elite teams like Natus Vincere, Team Liquid, and Astralis. With these heavyweights entering the competition, a notable bump in viewership is expected.
Follow the tournament’s progress and its viewership trends with Esports Charts!
