Home

Natus Vincere are back on top. The Ukrainian giants have claimed the StarLadder StarSeries Fall 2025 title in Budapest after a commanding 2-0 victory over Ninjas in Pyjamas, marking their first Counter-Strike championship since 2024.

NAVI’s road to the trophy wasn’t without bumps, but when it mattered most they looked every bit the favourites. After struggling in recent months with disappointing results at BLAST Bounty, the Esports World Cup, and BLAST Open London, the squad arrived in Hungary under pressure to prove themselves. They did exactly that.

The Final Showdown

The Grand Final opened on Nuke, where NAVI took control early with a strong CT side. NIP threatened a comeback in the first half but NAVI steadied the ship, holding a 7-5 lead at the break. Despite losing the second-half pistol, a force-buy win handed NAVI the momentum they needed to cruise to a 13-7 finish.

Inferno told a different story, at least at first. NIP’s star duo Kacper “xKacpersky” Gabara and Artem “r1nkle” Moroz lit up the scoreboard, restricting NAVI to just three rounds on their T side. But any hopes of a Ninjas upset were dashed once NAVI switched to defence. Their structure and resilience on the B site shut down NIP’s attempts to break through, with Mihai “iM” Ivan producing standout moments including a clutch three-man spraydown. NAVI closed the map 13-10, sealing a clean 2-0 series.

Building Confidence Again

For NAVI, this title is more than just silverware. The team’s recent slump raised questions about whether the addition of Drin “makazze” Shaqiri was enough to turn their fortunes around. Their fourth-place run at IEM Cologne in July was followed by a string of early exits, leaving fans frustrated and critics calling for more roster changes.

In Budapest, however, NAVI looked united. From their recovery against 9INE in the opening round to back-to-back wins over Passion UA and NIP in the upper bracket, they rediscovered the cohesion that’s been missing. The victory comes with $200,000 in prize money and, perhaps more importantly, a huge boost in confidence heading into ESL Pro League Season 22 later this week.

What’s Next

NAVI now shift focus to ESL Pro League, which kicks off on September 27. A strong showing there will cement their place in the top 32 of the Valve Regional Standings and secure qualification for the StarLadder Budapest Major in November.

For Ninjas in Pyjamas, the loss stings but their resilience through the lower bracket to reach the final shows promise. Still, it’s NAVI who leave Hungary with the headlines, the trophy, and the momentum they’ve been searching for all year.