Counter-Strike Austin Major 2025: Playoffs roundup

Counter‑Strike 2’s Austin Major 2025 featured 32 teams competing across three Swiss stages before reaching the playoffs, where the final eight emerged. Dynasties, surprise upsets, and historical milestones all came to a head in Austin’s climax.

The Major may have many unpredictable results, but it also had the most predictable winner. Team Vitality takes it all and can confidently call themselves the best team in the game, and of this era. Now that the dust has settled, let’s recap what happened during the playoffs and what teams need to do to catch up to the new standard. If you missed the group stages, here’s our recap on everything that unfolded.

Team Vitality capped the first half of 2025 by winning seven trophies in a row, including an ESL Grand Slam trophy and the Austin Major to punctuate their status as the best team in Counter-Strike 2. The team’s turnaround traces back to January’s signing of ropz, which saw captain apEX calling it the “best move of all time”. They cruised through the playoffs, beating NAVI 2-0, MOUZ 2-1, and dominating MongolZ in the championship series after losing the first map.

The team excels tactically and boasts standout individual performances, with tournament MVP ZywOo Herbaut breaking records for the number of awards. But it was IGL apEX who led by example in the grand finals, dropping 43 kills and a 1.37 rating to secure their Major over MongolZ. Despite their questionable best-of-one loss against Legacy, Vitality closes out one of the most successful seasons in Counter-Strike and shows no signs of stopping.

MongolZ, an all-Mongolian roster of teen prodigies, made history as the first-ever Asian team to reach a major final and was also the youngest. They breezed through the finals after winning 2-0 over both FaZe and paiN. In the grand finals, they put up a convincing Mirage against Vitality with Senzu and 910 putting up 1.82 and 1.80 ratings, respectively. 910’s ace set the crowd roaring in Austin and in Mongolia, where crowds gathered to support their team en masse since early morning.

Even in defeat, the run showcased their raw mechanical talent and made MongolZ legendary contenders on the global stage. The team has had a great season with high placements in big events like IEM Dallas, IEM Melbourne, ESL Pro League Season 21, and IEM Katowice. This roster has the potential to be champions one day, and their inspiring cultural impact in their country will give them the boost they need to finally lift a well-deserved trophy. 

Despite FaZe’s presence in the previous two Major grand finals, they’ve had a lacklustre season, peaking with a third-place finish in PGL Bucharest 2025. The star-studded roster found a great win by acquiring EliGE, but lost ropz to Vitality. Now, after bringing in superstar s1mple on a short-term loan, they were able to make it to the playoffs, but immediately fell in the first match. S1mple couldn’t rise to the occasion in their series, ending with a 24-33 record and a 0.80 rating.

From their trash-talking energy to lighthearted content, the Ukrainian legend is enjoying his time in FaZe. They’re a fan-favourite team, and it would be good for the scene to see a few more runs with this roster. However, it’s up to FaZe whether they want to (or could even afford) a buyout from NAVI. 

MOUZ are perennially the bridesmaids, never the bride. Acquiring Spinx from Vitality and replacing siuhy with Brollan as their IGL did wonders for their team. The first highlight for the German organisation was winning PGL Cluj-Napoca 2025, then securing high placements in big events like second place in ESL Pro League Season 21, BLAST Open Spring 2025, and IEM Dallas.

However, MOUZ has consistently finished right behind Vitality, the team most often the cause of their losses. The Major winners have beaten MOUZ seven straight times this year, including a 2-1 loss in the semi-finals in Austin. Despite playing one of the best maps in the Major against Spirit, they failed to bring that resilience against their one-sided rivals. They’re firmly the second-best team this season with consistent individual performances. However, the final hurdle requires a tactical shake-up and a psychological breakthrough. 

Two legacy CIS teams stumbled in Austin, raising discussions on their lineup. Team Spirit again heavily leaned on star rifler donk and AWPer sh1ro. In the MOUZ series, Spirit won a wild Mirage OT (powered by wild clutches from Magixx and a daring defuse from zont1x) but collapsed on Dust2 and Nuke. The calls on Spirit’s T-side were questionable and crumbled whenever donk fails to pull a generational performance in each round. 

While Magixx’s play has been spotty compared to last year, Spirit’s macro game could use a refresher. Recently, the organisation’s academy team has transferred its young star kyousuke over to Falcons, losing potential firepower the main team sorely needed.

HLTV’s best team of 2024, NAVI, also underwhelmed, bowing out in two close games to Vitality in the quarters. This is one of the team’s best placements this season, as they usually finish with a middling 8th seed in big events like IEM Melbourne. 

Unlike Spirit, it’s difficult to point out the problem players in NAVI and whether a roster switch is the right decision. Coach B1ad3 defended everyone’s effort and will start thinking hard about their plans for next season.

If roster changes were to happen, b1t and iM’s performances in the Major would naturally put them on the chopping block, but jL isn’t safe either. Makazze, the star player in their academy team, could provide the firepower the main team needs.

Both CIS organisations have underscored cracks that may require drastic roster adjustments if these teams are to contend for the top spot again.

Two of Brazil’s national teams made a bold pivot to an international lineup that paid dividends, bringing in stars to complement their Brazilian core. The gamble paid off spectacularly at the Austin Major, as two Brazilian teams made it to the playoffs since PGL Major Kraków 2017. FURIA entered the playoffs with a clean 3-0 in Stage 3 while paiN won three deciders in a row to qualify with 3-2. 

Unfortunately, the two teams faced off in their first match in the playoffs. FalleN proved that giving up the AWP to IGL was the best choice for the team, but his teammates crumbled under the pressure, losing to their rivals 2-1. 

FURIA’s star player, KSCERATO, had an admirable dream of winning a Major with a Brazilian team, but dropped a 0.98 rating in their series. His 0.73 rating in their third map highlighted his absence. Newly signed YEKINDAR experienced one of the longest kill droughts in Counter-Strike, getting 18 eliminations in Inferno’s CT half, then failing to find another after that. 

PaiN would move on to the semis only to get stomped 2-0 by MongolZ, ending both matches with a 13-5 score. Only nqz came out of the series with a positive rating, but the rest of paiN faltered hard. They did well to make it this far, and it shows promise for the region, but this was a clear message that there’s more work to do if they want to contend with the top teams.

The Austin Major proved that Vitality’s perfect 2025 has been no fluke. They have defined what a superteam is in Counter-Strike 2 with tournament wins and personal records. However, they weren’t the only team setting milestones in the Major. MongolZ paves the way for the Asian esports scene while FURIA and paiN show that Brazil can remain competitive.

The Major made it clear that there’s a huge gap between Vitality and the rest of the teams. No contender came close to matching their consistency and execution. But Counter-Strike’s competitive landscape evolves fast, and it’s only a matter of time before a team can bridge that gulf.