siuhy’s squad stays on the hunt for a playoff spot after an intense and competitive series.
MOUZ survived another day in the Shanghai Major’s Elimination Stage by defeating 3DMAX 2-0 in the 1-2 pool. Ranked fifth in the world, MOUZ now advance to Sunday’s 2-2 round, where they will compete for a place in the playoffs.
Despite the clean 2-0 scoreline, the match was anything but straightforward. MOUZ had to claw their way back from an 8-10 deficit to secure victory on Dust2, while 3DMAX narrowly missed pushing Nuke into overtime after staging a late-game rally.
Reflecting on the match, Thomas “Djoko” Pavoni stated, “I don’t think there’s much frustration because we executed our game plan. In some situations, individual errors occurred in positioning or rotations, but we’ll learn from those to improve next time. Overall, we’re happy with our performance at this Major.”
On Dust2, 3DMAX came out strong, opening both halves with well-thought-out strategies, securing pistol rounds, and following up with three consecutive rounds to establish early leads of 4-0 and 9-7.
MOUZ, however, adjusted their approach effectively, turning the tide with well-timed aggressive plays. On the defensive side, coordinated flashes disrupted 3DMAX’s setups, while Dorian “xertioN” Berman’s calculated B-site lurks in the second half helped MOUZ regain control.
Although 3DMAX attempted a late resurgence, a pivotal 1v3 clutch by Kamil “siuhy” Szkaradek at a crucial moment shattered their momentum, allowing MOUZ to close out the map and stifle the French team’s comeback hopes.
Nuke began with an extended technical pause that temporarily stalled the action. Once play resumed, MOUZ took the initiative despite losing the majority of opening duels. 3DMAX found their rhythm mid-way through their T side, narrowing the deficit to just two rounds before halftime.
The French squad carried that momentum into the second half, grabbing the lead after a flawless pistol round. However, when Ádám “torzsi” Torzsás brought out the AWP, the game’s dynamic shifted dramatically. MOUZ responded with a dominant 5-0 streak, successfully neutralizing 3DMAX’s advances. A late surge from 3DMAX made overtime appear imminent, but MOUZ held firm to secure the win and close the series.
