The veto played out as expected, with Anubis and Inferno being the maps of choice. Eternal Fire had been nearly unstoppable on Anubis this year, coming into the event with a 9-1 record, while 3DMAX had built a reputation for strong T-side performances on Inferno, making it one of their most comfortable maps.
Anubis kicked off the series with 3DMAX setting the pace, storming to an early lead and keeping Eternal Fire under pressure. However, the Turkish side fought back, managing to level the score at 6-6 by halftime. The second half saw Eternal Fire take control thanks to a 1.69-rated performance from jottAAA, who led the team to a 13-10 victory.
Inferno told a different story, as the French team came out swinging with a dominant first half. Their aggression and tactical discipline earned them an 8-4 lead at the break, and they only allowed Eternal Fire to secure a single round in the second half. 3DMAX closed out the map with a 13-5 win, forcing a decider on Nuke.
Nuke proved to be the most competitive map of the series, with both teams refusing to simply back down. 3DMAX edged out a 7-5 lead at halftime, but Eternal Fire soon found their footing. Wicadia’s key holds on A Site and jottAAA’s multi-kill impact on Ramp turned the tide, allowing Eternal Fire to squeeze out a 13-11 victory.
In a post-match interview, MAJ3R stated that “Today was a little bit of an off-day for us, we didn’t play the best CS that we’re used to showing in other games. But I’m really happy that even with our form we can win these matches”.
Meanwhile, despite the loss, 3DMAX have shown steady improvement in 2025, even after the recent addition of bodyy in place of Djoko. It should be kept in mind that they pushed Eternal Fire to the limit at IEM Katowice, yet at this tournament, some missteps in mid and late-round calls on Nuke proved costly.
All hope is not lost for them, however, as 3DMAX’s future in this tournament will be decided tomorrow in their elimination match against SAW.
