The first day of the group stage at PGL Astana 2025 made it clear that the battle for playoff spots will be intense. All eight matches unfolded with different storylines: some favorites secured confident wins, while others faced unexpected resistance. The tournament is just getting started, but it’s already evident which teams are in good shape and which ones still need to find their rhythm.
Astralis vs ODDIK
Despite internal struggles, the departure of experienced IGL cadiaN, and rumors about a potential sale of the organization, Astralis managed to prove they can still fight under any circumstances. The series began on Dust2, where Astralis took the win 13:9. However, they were crushed 2:13 on Ancient before bouncing back on Inferno with a confident 13:7 victory. It was stavn’s individual performance that helped Astralis secure the series — he finished with a 1.46 rating.
Aurora vs BIG
This match was truly tense, with all maps ending in close scorelines. Aurora won the first map, Mirage, 13:11, but dropped Inferno by the same score. The decider was Dust2, where BIG showed better preparation and closed it out 13:8.
G2 vs MIBR
G2 are going through a rough period. After losing their two best players, the team has struggled to maintain its winning core. To make things worse, huNter- couldn’t attend the group stage due to visa issues, forcing G2 to play with coach TaZ. Despite their efforts, they lost the series 1-2, only managing to win Ancient 13:8. Brazilian player brnz4n stood out with 56 kills across three maps.
The MongolZ vs FURIA
The MongolZ are in great form. After finishing 3rd–4th at IEM Melbourne, they continue to impress fans and analysts alike. On the other side, FURIA’s recent roster changes — adding YEKINDAR and molodoy — haven’t yet yielded results. The MongolZ dominated Mirage 13:4, FURIA responded by taking Anubis 13:7, but it was The MongolZ who prevailed on Inferno 13:9. senzu was the best performer with 54 kills and a 1.31 rating.
NAVI vs M80
NAVI continue to surprise. Despite a shaky showing in Melbourne, they showed resilience from the first day of the PGL Astana, defeating M80 2-0. Young AWPer w0nderful played a key role in the win, dropping 31 kills and posting a 1.41 rating across two maps.
Virtus.pro vs NiP
This is NiP’s first big tournament of the year, and they kicked things off on a strong note. The series went the full distance, with NiP clinching the decider on Ancient 13:9. sjuush delivered an exceptional performance with 58 kills, 89.7 average damage, and a 1.48 rating.
Spirit vs GamerLegion
Despite both maps — Mirage and Nuke — ending 13:11, Spirit came out on top. Once again, donk demonstrated incredible aim and game sense, finishing the match with 42 kills, 94.4 average damage and a 1.40 rating.
paiN vs HOTU
The Brazilian squad didn’t feel much resistance from their opponents. paiN comfortably won Mirage 13:8 and Nuke 13:4 and end the lose streak. biguzera led the charge with 35 kills and a 1.57 rating. The key for them now is to maintain this level throughout the rest of the tournament.
Read more: Top 5 Players of Day One at PGL Astana 2025
Teams with a 1-0 record
- NAVI
- BIG
- The MongolZ
- MIBR
- Spirit
- NiP
- Astralis
- paiN
Teams with a 0-1 record
- G2
- ODDIK
- GamerLegion
- FURIA
- Aurora
- HOTU
- Virtus.pro
- M80
Day Two Matchups
1-0 Teams:
- NAVI vs BIG
- The MongolZ vs MIBR
- Spirit vs NiP
- Astralis vs paiN
0-1 Teams:
- G2 vs ODDIK
- GamerLegion vs FURIA
- Aurora vs HOTU
- Virtus.pro vs M80
Read more: Media: Wildcard Considering Going Full NA CS2 Squad After the BLASTtv Austin Major
The first day of the PGL Astana Major 2025 group stage delivered plenty of highlights, standout individual performances, and surprising results. Some favorites already find themselves under pressure, while others have confidently staked their claim as serious contenders. With many matches still ahead, the competition is just heating up — every win or loss from now on could be crucial in the race for the playoffs.
