After nearly a year away from top-tier competition, TYLOO made a triumphant return to the Big Event stage with a surprising 2-0 victory over 3DMAX at ESL Pro League Season 21. The Chinese squad delivered an impressive performance, taking Ancient 13-10 before closing out the series with a dominant 13-5 win on Inferno. This result marks their first appearance at a premier international event since ESL Pro League Season 19 in April 2024.
Despite TYLOO’s struggles on the domestic front throughout 2025, they showcased their potential on the global stage by defeating a higher-ranked 3DMAX roster, a team sitting 103 places above them in Valve’s standings. The upset victory serves as a strong statement for the squad as they look to reestablish themselves among the top teams.
Much of TYLOO’s success can be attributed to Yi “JamYoung” Yang, who delivered a standout performance, ending the series with an astonishing 1.76 rating. His consistency in securing early-round kills gave TYLOO a significant edge, making him the decisive factor in their commanding win.
The series opened on Ancient, where JamYoung’s impact was undeniable. The 23-year-old rifler dominated the T-side, posting a 2.24 rating and winning six out of seven opening duels, helping TYLOO secure the map 13-10, despite losing both pistol rounds and starting each half at a 0-3 deficit.
Moving onto Inferno, TYLOO continued their aggressive approach, quickly establishing an 8-2 lead. Although 3DMAX showed brief moments of resistance before halftime, TYLOO remained in control, sealing a 13-5 victory and comfortably closing out the series.
For 3DMAX, the defeat extends a difficult run of form. The team had made a strong first impression with Alexandre “bodyy” Pianaro, securing a spot at IEM Dallas after defeating NEVERMORE and HEROIC with relative ease. However, their LAN experience at PGL Cluj-Napoca was far less successful, as they suffered losses to MOUZ and Eternal Fire, leading them into the 2-2 bracket, where an unexpected defeat to a disbanding SAW roster dashed their playoff hopes.
Their campaign at ESL Pro League Season 21 has now started on similarly shaky ground, with their opening loss to TYLOO pushing them into the 0-1 bracket, where they will need to regroup quickly to stay in contention for the next stage.
