3DMAX Eliminate Liquid at IEM Rio 2026 as Lucky Dominates Series

3DMAX eliminated Liquid from IEM Rio 2026 after a convincing 2-0 victory in the Group A lower bracket, sending the North American side home in last place without a single map win.

The French squad secured a dramatic 16-14 overtime win on Nuke before comfortably closing the series on Ancient (13-5), with Lucas “Lucky” Chastang delivering a standout performance across both maps.

Nuke Comeback Shifts the Series Momentum

Liquid looked in control early on Nuke, building an 11-4 lead and winning the second-half pistol round. However, their advantage quickly slipped as 3DMAX mounted a disciplined comeback on the CT side.

The critical moment came in overtime, where Liquid failed to convert a 4v2 situation, allowing 3DMAX to steal the map and completely flip the momentum of the series.

Lucky Shines as 3DMAX Dominate Ancient

Ancient proved to be a one-sided affair. 3DMAX carried their momentum forward, overwhelming Liquid with aggressive map control and efficient executes.

Lucky was the key difference-maker, finishing the series with:

54 kills

95.0 ADR

1.78 rating

Liquid struggled to respond, especially on the T side, where they failed to gain consistent openings or map control.

Liquid’s Struggles Continue in 2026 Season

The Rio exit adds to a growing list of concerns for Liquid, who are still searching for consistency after recent roster changes.

The team also suffered a 0-2 loss to Spirit earlier in the tournament, meaning they leave Rio without winning a single map—one of their weakest showings in recent tier-one events.

Roster Moves and Major Qualification Pressure

Liquid’s current form comes amid significant roster changes. In March 2026, the organization swapped Mario “malbsMd” Samayoa for Guy “NertZ” Iluz in a deal with G2, aiming to rebuild a stronger Americas core ahead of the Major qualification cutoff.

Despite shaky performances, Liquid still managed to qualify for the upcoming IEM Cologne Major—but not convincingly.

Jonathan “EliGE” Jablonowski openly addressed the situation:

“We honestly just got lucky… and that doesn’t feel good.”

He emphasized that qualification alone is not enough, stating the team must reach a level they can be proud of.

EliGE: “It’s an Overall Team Collapse”

EliGE also dismissed the idea that Liquid’s struggles stem from a single player, defending malbsMd’s performances:

“He’s doing a really good job… it’s an overall team collapse.”

The statement highlights deeper structural issues within the roster, particularly their inability to convert advantages and close out games—problems clearly visible in the loss to 3DMAX.

3DMAX Build Momentum Despite Inconsistent Form

For 3DMAX, the win represents an important confidence boost after a shaky start to the tournament.

The team previously lost 0-2 to Falcons, despite showing early promise. Their victory over Liquid keeps them alive in the lower bracket and sets up a crucial clash against G2.

Earlier insights from Lucky suggest the team is still evolving after leadership changes, with a focus on unlocking greater individual potential within the roster.

What’s Next?

3DMAX advance in the lower bracket and face tougher opposition ahead

Liquid exit IEM Rio 2026 in last place

Pressure continues to build ahead of the IEM Cologne Major