Liquid vs Astralis StarLadder Budapest Major: Best odds, picks

Fariha Bhatti Published 01/12/2025

StarLadder Budapest Major 2025’s final round in stage 2 is revealing what stage 3 may look like, and a renewal of the storied Team Liquid vs Astralis rivalriy is the highlight match. With both teams in the top 15 of the global rankings, it’s a tricky game for bettors. We break it down here with the best odds and the picks to go for.

The Swiss format has pushed two fan-favorite teams straight into an elimination match, making this one a rough call for CS2 adherents. Neither Liquid nor Astralis entered the event as outright favorites, but with rosters packed with top CS2 talent, most fans expected them to last deeper into the playoffs. Instead, their paths collided after conflicting results in stage 2, and only one will make the stage 3 cut set for December 4.

Fanfare aside, bettors will have a hard time calling wagers on the Liquid vs Astralis match, as neither team is in peak form right now, yet both lineups are stacked with potential. Our betting guide should help weigh the risks and point bettors in the right direction.

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Match overview

• Tournament: StarLadder Budapest Major 2025
• Stage: Stage 2, round 5
• Game: Counter-Strike 2
• Format: Best-of-three

Betting tip: Astralis and Team Liquid are both stuck in a slump, and this StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 series could be the event that decides which of the two actually crawls out of it. Their trajectories have been nearly identical across the first four rounds, leaving both in the elimination bracket. Astralis appears to be in better form according to the bookmakers. With a roster packed with experience and reliable firepower, Astralis’ chances of taking the series look more convincing than those of Liquid.

TL should take at least one map, but ultimately, Astralis will likely take away the series, booking its slot in stage 3.

Our Imperial vs M80 pick: Total maps to be over 2.5 @ 1.85 odds.

Team Liquid vs Astralis match analysis

For this match-up, bookmakers aren’t entirely convinced that Astralis can comfortably sweep Team Liquid. Fair enough, as Liquid’s form has looked far better in the late stages of the year’s second Major than it has anywhere else lately. Jonathan “EliGE” Jablonowski’s return has added some stability to the mixed roster, and Astralis’ projected win won’t come easy at all, especially under elimination pressure.

Astralis player Magisk. Credit: BLAST

Both Team Liquid and Astralis have had identical journeys coming into the stage 2 elimination bracket, losing their first two games to weaker opponents before bouncing back with visible struggle. Astralis looked slightly more stable in its recovery run, while Liquid came dangerously close to getting knocked out by TYLOO in round 4. An overtime win kept Liquid alive in the major, but it also showed how fragile the team can be under pressure right now, even against opponents they were expected to beat.

Across their wins and losses in stage 2, Astralis has shown serious firepower. Their core trio averages the steadier rating output, with Jakob “jabbi” Nygaard sitting around the 1.20 mark, Victor “Staehr” Staehr hovering near 1.15, and Emil “Magisk” Reif consistently posting 1.05 to 1.15 even in losses. Astralis rarely collapsed across the board with at least two rifles deliver every series.

Team Liquid, meanwhile, has relied heavily on Jonathan “EliGE” Jablonowski and Keith “NAF” Markovic, both capable of 1.20+ games. TL’s supporting cast frequently dips below 1.00. The spike in Liquid’s firepower and then sudden decline across the roster makes them a risky pick for a match-up that could go either way.

It’s worth noting that Team Liquid has all the ingredients needed to disrupt the bookmaker’s odds. Since Jonathan “EliGE” Jablonowski returned, the team has placed a respectable third at A-tier events like FISSURE Playground and the CS Asia Championship. Those who pick them as a value option may benefit from the fact that Liquid’s ceiling is noticeably higher than the odds suggest, especially if EliGE and Keith “NAF” Markovic hit their form together and this supporting cast avoids its usual dips across the series.

If the series goes to Mirage or Ancient, Liquid could easily punish Astralis, who has far less recent playtime on both of Liquid’s strongest two maps. Key stats for both teams further suggest that the game has potential to go either way, which means Liquid isn’t a bad pick either. Just a slightly riskier one.

Key stats

Liquid vs Astralis betting odds snapshot

CS2 betting odds as of December 2, 5:40 p.m. ET, via Stake

Liquid vs Astralis picks and predictions

Astralis vs Liquid will be a three-map series with the odds sitting dead center. If the series stretches long, Astralis holds the upper hand. The Danes boast winning records on Nuke and Ancient across large sample sizes, and even their middling maps sit in safer territory than Liquid’s. TL has only two power picks, while Astralis can pressure them on multiple fronts in the map veto.

The series is most likely ending 2-1 in Astralis’ favor, giving them the final push into stage 3 of the major. The odds could tilt toward Liquid if the series lands on their two strongest maps, making them a value pick for bettors willing to take a risk.

Liquid vs Astralis prediction

Our Liquid vs Astralis pick: Astralis to win 2-1 @ 1.75 odds at Stake.

Featured image credit: Team Liquid on X

Fariha Bhatti

About Fariha Bhatti

Fariha Bhatti is a long-time gaming writer who loves competitive FPS games and slots with particularly fun themes. She got her start playing classic games developed by SNK, from legendary fighting game series The King of Fighters to challenging platform franchise Metal Slug. She now spends most of her time playing Valorant and Counter-Strike 2 while working her way through new slot releases to find her next favorite. Fariha has been published at PCGamesN, TalkEsport and ONE Esports.

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