Fnatic’s $30,000 Journey to the Budapest Major: One of the Toughest Qualifiers in CS2 History

The organization Fnatic has officially secured a spot at the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025, but the road to qualification turned out to be one of the toughest — and most expensive — in Counter-Strike history.

Very recently, Fnatic won the Frag Blocktober 2025 LAN event in the United States, bringing home a reward of $5,500 in prize money. But the cost of attending the event was apparently around $30,000 for the club. This included tickets, hotel accommodations, and other expenses that were incurred for preparations and that did not get invested by the people who organized the event. Despite the financial hit, the trip proved to be crucial: Fnatic’s victory at Frag Blocktober earned them the final VRS points they needed to qualify for the Major in Budapest.

“It’s a difficult task for any organization and a very large amount of money. The organizers don’t pay for anything — not flights, not hotels. It’s an incredible expense for the team,” said Rodion “Fear” Smyk, commenting on Fnatic’s efforts.

Fnatic’s journey to the Major lasted 264 days. During this time, the team participated in 31 VRS-based tournaments, including six LAN events, winning three of them. To earn enough points, the roster traveled across five countries and two continents. According to analysts, the team’s chance of qualifying for the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 was only 2.9%.

Alongside Fnatic, other teams joining Stage 1 include PARIVISION, FaZe, FlyQuest, and B8, while Vitality, Spirit, and Falcons will start directly from Stage 3.

All 32 Teams Confirmed for StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 in CS2

The StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 kicks off on November 24 and promises to be the biggest CS2 event of the year.