NRG vs Fnatic StarLadder Budapest Major 2025: Best odds, picks
Stage 1 of the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 is wrapping up, with NRG and Fnatic among the final teams for Stage 2 are about to be locked in to face some of the most accomplished Counter-Strike 2 rosters in the world. It’s a good moment for bettors to check the latest odds and picks before placing their wagers.
| Match | NRG vs Fnatic |
|---|---|
| Start time | November 26, 2025, at 3:30 p.m. ET |
| Our pick | Fnatic to win 2–1 @ 3.10 odds |
| Betting favorite | Fnatic |
Group play at the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 has already delivered enough upsets to make bettors feel a little uneasy. Pick’Em sheets are in shambles for many CS2 fans after Gamer Legion fell short and teams including Red Canids and Fluxo have overperformed. The final rounds are expected to be far more competitive however, and with NRG showing a level of form they haven’t displayed in months, Fnatic may end up walking into a match-up they aren’t fully prepared for.
On paper, Fnatic’s lineup has enough firepower to keep the match close if not win it outright. Whether that on-paper ability actually turns into a win is up to bettors to decide once they review our NRG vs Fnatic picks and predictions.
Match overview
- Tournament: StarLadder Budapest Major 2025
- Stage: Stage 1, round 4
- Game: Counter-Strike 2
- Format: Best-of-three
Betting tip: As per our StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 betting guide, neither Fnatic nor NRG sits among the true outright favorites. But NRG has surprised fans throughout the early stages of the event, while Fnatic’s level has stayed roughly where most people expected it to be. NRG’s strong start doesn’t suddenly make Fnatic a bad pick here; it simply shows that this match is shaping up to be a close, competitive battle between two even teams.
Fnatic is still the expected winner according to bookmakers, but the odds suggest NRG will take at least one map. The series is projected to stay tight, with NRG forcing close scorelines even if they fall short in the end.
Our NRG vs Fnatic pick: Total maps to be over 2.5 @ 1.92 odds.
NRG vs Fnatic match analysis
NRG entered Stage 1 as one of the least-favored teams in the outright market at 75.00 odds. Since then, the roster has climbed into the 2–1 bracket after taking down stronger picks FaZe and Gamer Legion. They managed all of this without their in-game leader, Nick “nitr0” Cannella, which makes the run even more concerning for Fnatic, a team already showing clear weaknesses.
NRG coach daps. Credit: ESL
Fnatic team opened the event on a strong note, stumbled against Fluxo, and then recovered quickly to land in the same 2–1 bracket as NRG. While both teams now sit in the same position, the way they got there may help bettors decide which side has the edge. Based solely on StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 group play, NRG comes across as the stronger value pick. But it’s important to remember that NRG’s reconfigured roster may still slip up as the event proceeds.
With the team missing its in-game leader and Jeorge “Jeorge” Endicott joining only recently, NRG hasn’t had enough time together to reliably outmatch Fnatic’s far more settled roster.
On the other side, Benjamin “BlameF” and Dmytro “Jambo” Semera have both been in good form lately, shown clearly during Fnatic’s top-six finish at the CS Asia Championships 2025 when each posted ratings above 1.40 in their match against TYLOO. When those two weren’t carrying the pace, Mykyta “jackasmo” Skyba filled the gaps with steady rifle work. Compared to this level of stability, NRG may find it hard to keep up, and if they lose the first map, their less experienced roster could struggle to recover.
Key stats
| Stats | NRG | Fnatic | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Map win rate | 63% | 62% | Fnatic |
| Opening kills | 53.3% | 50.9% | NRG |
| Pistol round winrate | 50% | 46% | NRG |
Fnatic vs NRG betting odds snapshot
| Market | Odds |
|---|---|
| Fnatic to win | 1.48 |
| NRG to win | 2.80 |
| Total maps under 2.5 | 1.75 |
CS2 betting odds as of November 26, 12 p.m. ET, via Stake
Fnatic vs NRG picks and predictions
Fnatic vs NRG will likely be a close match with Fnatic expected to drop one map, most likely the second. The roster should still recover on the decider and close out the series, securing their place in Stage 2. NRG, meanwhile, will most likely have to fight through the elimination round on November 27 to keep their StarLadder Budapest Major run alive.
Fnatic vs NRG predictions
Fnatic vs NRG pick: Fnatic to win 2–1 @ 3.10 odds at Stake.
Featured image credit: Fnatic on X
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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