StarLadder has partnered with gaming peripherals brand ZOWIE for the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) event.
As a result of the deal, the brand will become the official monitor partner of the Valve-sanctioned CS2 tournament.
ZOWIE will provide its XL2586X+ gaming monitors for all three stages of the event and the playoffs, offering players consistent performance throughout the duration of the Major. According to ZOWIE, 88% of professional players are using its monitors in online and offline competitions.
Taking place from November 24th to December 14th, 2025, the Budapest Major sees the world’s top 32 teams competing for a share of a $1.25m (~£953,937) prize pool and a chance to etch their names in Counter-Strike history.
The Budapest Major isn’t the first time ZOWIE and StarLadder have collaborated. The two parties joined forces in 2019 when the tournament organiser hosted the Berlin Major.
ZOWIE becomes the second partner of the Budapest Major. It joins Esports Charts on its event portfolio after the esports data platform became the official analytics partner of the event in July 2025.
The peripherals brand is also no stranger to Counter-Strike esports, having supported several Tier 1 events over the past decade. Ahead of the Major, it joined forces with ESL FACEIT Group as the monitor partner of IEM Chengdu 2025, the final Tier 1 tournament before teams head to Hungary for the Major.
StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 Details
The Budapest Major is shaping up to be one of the most competitive Counter-Strike events in history, with several teams hitting form before the final event of the year.
Ahead of the event, StarLadder has unveiled the first Stage 1 matches beginning on November 24th, with the likes of FaZe Clan and Fnatic looking to begin the tournament with a win.
The event marks a new era for Counter-Strike Majors. The Budapest Major will be the first in history to use a best-of-five format in the Grand Final to determine the winner.
