B8 take down paiN in overtime affair at StarLadder Budapest Major 2025

B8 took down paiN in two nail-bittingly close maps at the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025. The two teams were battling against elimination, but at the end, B8’s superior firepower paid dividends. B8 will now enter the 2-2 matches to see if they can upset their way into the playoffs.

Team Rosters – B8 vs paiN

Map Veto

In pure tactics B8 often takes the advantage in this matchup, but paiN run a tight ship under biguzera often manages to find unlikely wins. B8 went with their regular ban on Nuke, with paiN following up with Train. The series, then, would be played on Dust2, Ancient, and Inferno.

1. paiN removed Train
2. B8 removed Nuke
3. paiN picked Dust2
4. B8 picked Ancient
5. B8 removed Overpass
6. paiN removed Mirage
7. Inferno was left over

Match Recap – B8 vs paiN

Dust2 – B8 close the map at the third time of asking – 19-16

Unusually for a pistol, both teams opted for two sets of utility spread across their players, giving themselves significant tactical options. One of those was an A split that paiN executed perfectly to take the round. They should have extended that advantage, but Esenthial’s five-seven sang on B, taking three.

That set B8 up for success as they surged to a 5-1 lead, with the riflers turning up the heat on paiN. Once nqz’s AWP came out, he and dav1deus powered paiN’s attacks, dragging the score back to 5-5. With paiN finding a recipe for success in their A splits, they kept leaning on that call to close the half 7-5.

A successful B site retake gave paiN the second pistol, and this time they rode the momentum to double digits. Their economy stayed fragile, though, and a single round win from B8 broke it. The Ukrainian side quickly chained three in a row while paiN scrambled to stabilize.

As the map reached its climax, both teams threw everything into trading blows. Round 21 boiled down to an AWPer duel, with npl planting at the last second on B before outplaying nqz to tie it 11-11. After trailing almost the entire map, B8 reached match point, but paiN refused to fold and forced overtime.

Flush with cash in OT, paiN deployed a double AWP setup that netted two defensive rounds. B8 matched that and more on their CT side to reach match point again, only for paiN to drag it into a second overtime. For a third time B8 found themselves on the brink, and this time they finished the job with a clean A site take.

Ancient – paiN’s lead vanishes in a flash – 16-12

B8 finally got a pistol win to start the second map, converting it into an early triple. Once guns came out though, paiN were back in the fight to tie the score. The Brazilian team then extended that lead to seven, guaranteeing a 7-6 advantage at halftime.

They extended that with their third pistol win of the match, keeping B8 on the back foot. That spelt a quick rush up to double digits, as biguzera was in imperial form. A well timed timeout on the B8 side though turned the tides. The Ukrainian side was suddenly activated despite a weak buy, and stopped paiN’s attack on A to take their first round.

With their rifles upgraded, and a win finally in their back pocket, B8 looked like a different team. Taking aggressive duels and mowing down their opponents, B8 quickly match paiN’s scoreline. kensizor and npl were particularly impressive, really turning the heat up on paiN. The Brazilians did get match point first, but just like on Dust2, the map quickly moved into overtime.

Once in OT, B8 continued their impressive CT performance, with a flawless first half. Backs against the wall, paiN had to match B8’s efforts or be eliminated from the major. B8 however was fully warmed up, and this time they didn’t miss a beat on the attack, quickly closing out the map, 16-12.

paiN’s run through the major came to a painful end after two close maps went the way of B8. While biguzera and co. were impressive, ultimately the stars did not show up alongside their IGL when it most counted. Now they head to the offseason, while B8 fight for a chance for a playoffs berth tomorrow.