3DMAX kicked off their ESL Pro League Stage 2 journey with a dominant showing, securing a 2-0 victory over Eternal Fire with wins on Inferno (13-10) and Anubis (13-10). The Turkish squad lost momentum toward the latter half of their T-side on Inferno, opting for repeated force buys that left them lacking the necessary utility. This played into 3DMAX’s hands, as they capitalized on the missteps and carried their momentum into Anubis, where their strong attacking display sealed the win.
3DMAX Gain Steam as Major Invites Approach
Following a lackluster run at PGL Cluj-Napoca, 3DMAX seem to be finding their rhythm at ESL Pro League. Apart from an early setback against TYLOO, they dominated Stage 1 and now opened Stage 2 by taking down a high-profile opponent.
Alexandre “bodyy” Pianaro continued his strong form, but today he was joined by Lucas “Lucky” Chastang, both players putting up impressive numbers. The team’s aggressive and unpredictable style proved difficult for Eternal Fire to handle, leaving their opponents struggling for solutions.
With BLAST Open Lisbon not on their schedule, ESL Pro League represents a key opportunity for 3DMAX to collect VRS points before the upcoming Major and MRQ invites on April 7. Securing a win on LAN against Eternal Fire is a significant achievement, and a deep tournament run would further strengthen their standing.
Eternal Fire’s Inconsistent Form Raises Concerns
The Turkish squad started 2025 with promise, reaching the BLAST Bounty grand final and making the top eight at IEM Katowice—a solid performance for a team striving to break into the elite tier. However, their form has declined sharply since then.
Their PGL Cluj-Napoca campaign fell short of expectations, failing to reach the semifinals, followed by an 0-2 loss to TYLOO in Stage 1 of EPL. Now, their Stage 2 run has begun with yet another disappointing 0-2 defeat, casting further doubt on their current level.
On Anubis, both Ismailcan “XANTARES” Dörtkardeş and Özgür “woxic” Eker struggled to make an impact, with the team appearing sluggish and uninspired, particularly on the T side. Several costly individual mistakes further compounded their troubles, preventing them from mounting a serious comeback.
Eternal Fire has always been a team known for high peaks and deep slumps, but unless they turn things around quickly, missing out on the EPL playoffs could become a reality. With pressure mounting, the team must find a way to regain their form before it’s too late.
