The BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 Stage 2 was a triumph for Brazilian Counter-Strike 2 teams. Legacy, FURIA, and paiN Gaming delivered standout performances, with Legacy and FURIA advancing to Stage 3 with 3-0 and 3-1 records, respectively, and paiN securing a 3-1 spot. MIBR, despite a 2-3 exit, also showed fight. In contrast, North America’s teams flopped, with M80 finishing near the bottom and no NA teams advancing from Stage 1. 

Legacy – The biggest surprise

Nobody expected much from Legacy. In fact, they weren’t even supposed to be at the Major. They only got in because BESTIA couldn’t get visas. But Legacy didn’t just show up – they dominated. They went 3-0 in Stage 2 and earned the highest seed for the next stage. They beat strong teams like 3DMAX and FaZe. For a young team with an average age of 22.5, this is an amazing result. Their map pool is solid, and individually, every player can pop off. Even their AWPer Guilherme "saadzin" Pacheco, who was seen as a weak point earlier in the year, is improving and stepping up in big games. Legacy’s run has been nothing short of incredible.

FURIA – Balanced and dangerous

FURIA also looked great in Stage 2. Despite changing their roster recently, they showed good structure and form. They beat Lynn Vision, lost a close match to paiN on Dust2, then bounced back by beating M80 and B8. Gabriel "FalleN" Toledo and his squad have found a good way to use Mareks "YEKINDAR" Gaļinskis, who now plays with smart aggression. Their Train map is especially strong, and players like Danil "molodoy" Golubenko are also shining. FalleN, now rifling instead of AWPing, looks sharp again. Their 3-1 record is a strong result and proves they’re a real threat moving forward.

paiN – Back on track

paiN has finally found their rhythm. After struggling with roster issues, they now seem stable and confident. They beat Nemiga and FURIA, then lost narrowly to Virtus.pro in a very close series (10-13 on Dust2 and 13-16 on Mirage). In their last match, they crushed Lynn Vision to qualify. The break after PGL Astana gave them time to prepare, and it paid off. Players like David "dav1deuS" Tapia and Franco "dgt" Garcia played well, but it was Lucas "nqz" Soares who stood out the most with the rating of 6.9. The Brazilian AWPer was on fire, and his form was a key reason for their success.

MIBR – A brave fight

MIBR didn’t make it to the next stage, but they deserve credit. They started with two losses to Legacy and Nemiga but fought back hard. They beat BetBoom in a tight series (both maps ended 13-11), then shocked everyone by defeating Falcons. They nearly took down FaZe too, but ran out of steam in the final map on Ancient, losing in overtime. Still, pushing a team like FaZe that far is impressive. MIBR may be out, but they showed real fight and progress.

Regional Outlook – Brazil strong, NA falls

While Brazil shined, North America struggled badly. M80 finished second to last in Stage 2, and no other NA team even made it out of Stage 1. Because of this poor performance, Americas will lose a Major slot next time, dropping from 11 to 10. On the flip side, thanks to Lynn Vision’s success, Asia gains a slot, now holding six in total. Overall, this Major showed that South America, especially Brazil, still belongs on the big stage. Yes, there were early exits for Imperial and Fluxo, but Stage 2 proved that Brazilian teams are real contenders.

Stage 3 is near

Brazilian teams stole the show at BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 Stage 2. Legacy’s 3-0 run, beating giants like FaZe, marked them as a breakout star. FURIA’s 3-1 record, led by YEKINDAR and FalleN, showed their revival. paiN’s 3-1 finish, with nqz’s sniper dominance, proved their potential. 

Even MIBR’s 2-3 record included a stunning upset over Falcons. South America’s success, with three teams in Stage 3, contrasts with NA’s total collapse and Asia’s rising slots. As Stage 3 looms from June 12, Legacy, FURIA, and paiN could push Brazil further, potentially challenging top dogs like Vitality and MOUZ.