Team Spirit captain Leonid «chopper» Vishnyakov addressed teammate Ivan «zweih» Gogin with a piece of advice ahead of the club’s match against Team Liquid at the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025. The exchange took place in the team’s pre-match environment and was later made public by the organization.
Vishnyakov summed up his message succinctly: "The main things are mental strength, power, love for your teammates and donk... If something isn't right, start communicating more with people. It always gets easier." The captain emphasized that open communication and a positive mindset are key when a player feels off.
On the competitive side, Spirit defeated Team Liquid in the opening match of the third stage. The roster then followed up with wins over FaZe Clan and MOUZ, finishing the stage with a flawless 3–0 record and securing a spot in the major’s playoffs.
In the first match of the decisive stage, Team Spirit is set to face Team Falcons; that encounter is scheduled for December 11 at 19:00 Moscow time. The matchup will mark Spirit’s debut in the playoff bracket of this major.
StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 runs from November 24 to December 14 in Budapest, Hungary. The tournament’s prize pool is $1.25 million, with $500,000 earmarked for the champion. Ongoing coverage and updates are available on Cybersport.ru.
The episode underlines a recurring theme in top-level esports: beyond tactics and mechanics, interpersonal communication and mental resilience often make the difference in high-pressure events like a major.