Home
Astralis

Astralis Sweeps FlyQuest, Survives Budapest Major 2025

Astralis Sweeps FlyQuest, Survives Budapest Major 2025
Astralis team celebrating victory over FlyQuest at StarLadder Budapest Major 2025

Astralis has successfully navigated a perilous StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 Stage 2 matchup, delivering a decisive sweep against FlyQuest. This pivotal victory ensures Astralis lives to fight another day, escaping a potential 0-3 exit from the tournament. Conversely, the loss marks a devastating end for FlyQuest, who are now the first team eliminated from Stage 2, finishing in last place despite a commendable run in the opening stage.

Clash for Survival: Astralis's Resurgence

Coming into Stage 2 with a "disastrous start," Astralis desperately needed a win to reignite their Budapest campaign. FlyQuest, after a flawless Stage 1 performance, found themselves struggling to replicate that form, ultimately facing an early exit. The high-stakes best-of-three series saw Astralis demonstrating a clear tactical edge and individual brilliance, shutting down FlyQuest's hopes of progressing further.

The map veto process set the stage for the intense showdown:

  • FlyQuest removed Nuke
  • Astralis removed Dust2
  • FlyQuest picked Mirage (Astralis won 13-5)
  • Astralis picked Overpass (Astralis won 13-11)
  • Astralis removed Train
  • FlyQuest removed Ancient
  • Inferno was left over (unused)

Mirage Domination: A Strong Start for the Danes

The series kicked off on FlyQuest's pick, Mirage. While FlyQuest managed an early lead with a forceful B-site attack and even a rare unicorn round, Astralis quickly countered. A crucial moment saw Astralis time out Justin "jks" Savage's clutch attempt in the first gun round, allowing them to equalize. As the half progressed, both teams traded blows, remaining neck-and-neck.

However, the momentum shifted dramatically when Astralis moved to the T-side. An aggressive A-site take, spearheaded by dev1ce's "pristine USP-S work," propelled the Danes into double digits. With every Astralis player firing on all cylinders, FlyQuest struggled to respond, and Astralis swiftly closed out the map with a dominant 13-5 victory. HooXi's tactical prowess and individual performance were highlighted as key factors in this commanding win.

Overpass Thriller: dev1ce Delivers Under Pressure

Carrying their newfound momentum, Astralis entered their map pick, Overpass, a map historically associated with legends like Emil "Magisk" Reif and Nicolai "dev1ce" Reedtz. They immediately secured three consecutive rounds. FlyQuest, however, pushed back in the gun rounds, leading to a back-and-forth affair that saw both teams unable to establish a significant lead due to constant economic resets. The score remained locked at 6-6 by halftime, reflecting the intense competition.

The tight battle continued into the late rounds, tying at 10-10. Despite a mistake from Jakob "jabbi" Nygaard granting FlyQuest their eleventh round, Astralis quickly fortified their B-site defense to maintain parity. In a decisive moment, with FlyQuest's coach Aaron "AZR" Ward calling a final timeout, dev1ce stepped up clutch. Wielding his "big green" (sniper rifle), he secured two crucial openers in toilets, while Victor "Staehr" Staehr provided vital support with a secondary sniper on the long side. A final aggressive push from jabbi sealed the deal, giving Astralis the 13-11 win and their first tournament victory.

Implications: FlyQuest's Early Exit, Astralis's Hope

For FlyQuest, their "flawless" Stage 1 run, which the source notes "did not inspire confidence" due to every player "walking on water with massive ratings," proved to be a fleeting success. Despite the recent addition of AZR as coach, offering hope for future improvement without roster changes, their Budapest Major journey ends abruptly in Stage 2. The question now looms: can AZR lead them to glory, as he has for Australian teams in the past?

Meanwhile, Astralis breathes a collective sigh of relief. This victory marks their crucial "first steps towards a Stage 3 berth," pulling them back from the brink of elimination. The pressure is now on HooXi and the rest of the squad to maintain this momentum and avoid what could have been another major failure for the storied Danish organization. Esports fans worldwide will be eagerly watching to see if this hard-fought survival can spark a deeper run in the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025.