What to Expect from Stage 3 of Austin Major: Overview and Analysis

We’ve made it past the halfway point of this summer’s main event, and now it’s time for the big-name teams to take the stage. What can we expect from the Austin Major Stage 3 schedule? Pure spectacle, of course. But here, I’m focusing on the less obvious details and trying to predict the unpredictable — because if the first two stages taught us anything, it’s that CS2 never fails to surprise.

BLAST.tv Austin Major Stage 3 Round 1 Schedule

Only the strongest teams have made it to Stage 3, and they’re up against the true giants of Counter-Strike. Vitality is in peak form, this could be their sixth straight tournament win, and everything points to them making it to the Grand Final again.

Aside from the big favorites, there are a couple of legendary teams that could fall to opponents who’ve already battled through the first two stages. Keep an eye on 3DMAX and Lynn Vision — both have built solid momentum and didn’t draw the toughest matchups. That creates an interesting betting landscape with some juicy odds from our partner GG.BET. The Aurora vs FaZe match is another chance to catch a 1.75 win — I’ll explain why below. So join us for the action.

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Stage 3 Round 1 Schedule

Here’s the full match schedule in two time zones: CDT – local time in Austin, where the Major is being held; and CET (Central European Time) – covering cities like Amsterdam, Berlin, Brussels, Budapest, Madrid, Paris, Stockholm, Rome, Prague, and Warsaw.

Legacy are already a part of this Major’s history. This is a team that wasn’t even supposed to be here—they lost their qualifying match to Bestia, but due to their opponent’s inability to attend (geopolitical issues), Legacy got the spot as a replacement. Analysts and casters alike predicted a 0-3 exit in the Opening Stage, but they defied all odds and went clean 3-0. Now they’re up against the final boss: Vitality. Sure, the French side might drop 7 rounds just for fun, but they’re not dropping the map. This is a heavy favorite matchup with razor-sharp 1.14 win odds from our partner GG.BET. Easy win.

On paper, this is a similar story. Virtus.pro could get a head start if they find early momentum, but they won’t close the map—this is a Bo1, and MOUZ doesn’t lose Bo1s to teams like this. The odds are a solid 1.40 on MOUZ, giving some room for value hunters.

Spirit is an obvious favorite against paiN. No surprises here—1.19 odds reflect the expected outcome. G2 vs 3DMAX, on the other hand, is a minefield. G2 is on a downward spiral, and 3DMAX has the tools to punish them. This one doesn’t have a real favorite, and 3DMAX at 1.83 looks like the smart pick.

The MongolZ shouldn’t give FURIA any room to breathe. It’s a great spot to grab a solid 1.5 value while it’s still available. FaZe vs Aurora is a weird one—FaZe should take it, but Aurora has been more stable and has had this roster longer. I’m backing Aurora here with confidence, especially with a 1.75 odds—great catch.

NaVi aren’t in top form, but Nemiga aren’t the team to punish them. As for Lynn Vision vs Liquid, I want to see the Chinese squad in the playoffs. It’s a high-risk bet at 2.94, but that’s the kind of gamble that turns heads.

BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 Stage 1 & 2 Highlights

As I mentioned earlier, Legacy is still the biggest storyline of the entire Major. The fact that they’re now up against the absolute tournament favorites, a team that’s three levels above them in firepower and pedigree, makes this a blockbuster match. It’s the kind of underdog vs titan clash we live for. Quietly rooting for their story, but let’s be honest—this one’s all Vitality.

Next up, let’s talk about B8. They looked sharp all tournament and qualified with a clean 3-0. For this young Ukrainian roster, it’s an incredible debut on the Major stage. Beating HEROIC, a solid Tier-2 team, means a lot more than taking out the wildly inconsistent Falcons. They’ve earned their spot—and a ton of respect.

Now for the bad news. Falcons, a $5M+ superteam, just imploded and dropped out in Stage 2. They never found their rhythm, and it’s hard to imagine this roster survives the post-Major shuffle. m0NESY still flexed his skill, posting MVP-level stats even in losses—but that alone couldn’t save them.

Lynn Vision, the Chinese squad that knocked Falcons out, might’ve done more than qualify; they’ve changed the scene. With their Stage 3 run, Asia now has six Major slots moving forward. That’s huge. Regardless of how far they go now, they’ve already won, for themselves, and for a whole region that finally has its breakout moment.

BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 Stage 2 Results

Here’s how Stage 2 of the Austin Major 2025 wrapped up: B8 stunned everyone, Falcons choked hard, and FaZe fought to bring themselves back from the brink.

You can check out our previous breakdowns, especially our Round 5 preview that closed out Stage 2. Spoiler alert: we really didn’t see Falcons losing that one.

What to expect from BLAST.tv Austin Major Stage 3

Expect a solid show. Legacy will get what they deserve — they’ve become a serious opponent, but now it’s time to face the French tank. The MongolZ still aren’t strong enough for a Grand Final run, but they’ve got the experience to reach the quarterfinals. 3DMAX has a real shot at making playoffs. NAVI are at risk of dropping to Nemiga, but it’s hard to believe it’ll happen. As for Lynn Vision, they can — and should — take down Liquid with their confident, intimidating form. So all eyes on the first and last matches of Stage 3 Round 1.