The group stage of PGL Astana 2025 brought more than just battles between favorites — it was filled with shocking upsets and unexpected breakthroughs. While some teams exceeded expectations, others fell short, making this stage one of the most unpredictable parts of the tournament.
A New Chapter for NiP and the Unexpected Standouts
One of the biggest surprises was NiP. The Swedish organization has struggled in recent years, but in Astana, they wrote a comeback story. After failing in three qualifiers, they finally claimed the one remaining slot through the closed qualifier. For the first time since 2022, NiP have made it to the playoffs of a major tournament. Standout players included sjuush, who joined the team recently and finished with a 1.28 rating, and r1nkle, who ended the group stage with a solid 1.20.
FURIA also impressed with their revamped roster featuring YEKINDAR and rising talent molodoy. In a must-win match, the Brazilians took down ODDIK to secure a playoff spot. Considering their recent struggles, this result was a big step forward.
The MongolZ and Astralis were two more teams that performed well beyond expectations. The MongolZ cruised through the group stage with a flawless 3-0 record, with senzu posting a 1.24 rating. Astralis, despite internal issues and organizational instability, managed to overcome tough opponents and advance to the playoffs, surprising even their critics.
Outside the Playoffs but Among the Highlights
On an individual level, malbsMd of G2 delivered one of the best performances of the tournament in a match against BIG: 46 kills, 120.6 ADR, and a 1.87 rating. Similarly, snax (GamerLegion) showed vintage form on Ancient vs. MIBR with a 24-11 scoreline and the same 1.87 rating. Meanwhile, HooXi had his best individual map in over a year, dropping a 28-22 performance on Dust2 versus Virtus.pro.
Group Stage Disappointments
Of course, not everyone lived up to expectations. GamerLegion, who placed top 5 at IEM Melbourne, lost all three of their matches in Astana. M80, after dominating qualifiers, couldn’t secure a single win — falling to G2, Virtus.pro, and NAVI.
Looking Ahead
The group stage of PGL Astana 2025 delivered plenty of twists and turns, shaking up fan and analyst predictions alike. Comebacks, breakout stars, and shocking defeats showed that in CS2, nothing is guaranteed. With playoffs ahead, the stakes are even higher and every mistake could be decisive. If the group stage was this wild, the playoffs are bound to be explosive.
The tournament runs in Kazakhstan’s capital from May 10–18, with teams competing for a $200,000 prize pool. Follow us on social media to stay updated with all the action.
