“Graviti Confident as 3DMAX Enters FISSURE Playground 2 with High Ambitions, Warns Event Will Be Tough”

Marko Brazy

12.09.2025 - 17:35

“Graviti Confident as 3DMAX Enters FISSURE Playground 2 with High Ambitions, Warns Event Will Be Tough”

Filip “Graviti” Branković, the new in-game leader (IGL) of the French-Serbian roster 3DMAX, has expressed strong belief in his team’s ability to challenge anyone at FISSURE Playground 2, while acknowledging that the level of competition is unusually intense. His remarks came ahead of the team's opening matches in the Swiss-format tournament, which began on September 12, 2025 in Belgrade.

Background: 3DMAX’s Recent Changes & Form

Graviti’s role: Graviti was recently promoted to IGL for 3DMAX. The roster also includes Maka, bodyy, Lucky, and YouKnow. The change in in-game leadership is part of a broader restructuring aimed at giving Maka more freedom to focus on fragging.
Recent tournament results: Prior to FISSURE Playground 2, 3DMAX had been performing well in other events:
- They won Perfect World CS Challenge Series 1 with solid showings.
- They also defeated TYLOO in that event, and had earlier wins over Lynn Vision.
- In the Esports World Cup 2025, 3DMAX placed between 5th-8th.

These results suggested that the team had momentum and were improving cohesion under Graviti’s leadership.

The Quote: “Capacity vs. Stacked Field”

During pre-match commentary, Graviti said:

“We have the capacity to beat all the teams here, but the event is very stacked.”

This statement has two layers:

Self-belief: He recognizes that their roster has both individual talent and rising performance. Given how 3DMAX has improved recently, Graviti is asserting that they are not underdogs—they believe they can outplay top teams if everything comes together.
Respect for competition: By calling the event “stacked,” he acknowledges that many other teams are also strong contenders. The field in FISSURE Playground 2 includes high-ranking organizations, many with deep experience on LANs and large prize pools. The Swiss format means early matches can be volatile and momentum matters.

About FISSURE Playground 2

Understanding the scale of the event helps frame why Graviti’s comments are significant:

Format: The event uses a Swiss groups system in the group stage, followed by a single-elimination playoff bracket. Bo3 matches are the norm.
Prize Pool & Stakes: $500,000 USD is on the line, making this a major LAN event (Tier-1 in many respects).
Teams: 16 teams are participating. The lineup includes well-known names like Virtus.pro, Falcons, G2, Aurora, TYLOO, and others. Many have deep VRS Global rankings.
Venue: Held in Belgrade, Serbia, at the Belgrade Arena. LAN conditions (travel, crowds, stage pressure) tend to magnify both strengths and weaknesses.

Opening Matches & Early Signs

3DMAX’s tournament got off to a strong start:

In the opening Swiss Round 1, 3DMAX beat The MongolZ 2-1. This was seen as an upset, given MongolZ’s high rank and expectations.
The victory over The MongolZ adds credence to Graviti’s view that they can compete with top teams when on point.

Challenges Ahead

Despite their promising start, several issues remain that could hinder 3DMAX’s deeper run:

Consistency: While wins like that over MongolZ are impressive, maintaining performance across multiple best-of-three matches in the Swiss rounds will be physically and mentally demanding.
Pressure & Adaptability: Early rounds are just one test. As 3DMAX progresses, stronger opponents will study them, exploit weaknesses, and force Graviti as the IGL to make tactical adjustments under pressure.
Map Pool & Execution on Defense: Several sources (including Lucky, a 3DMAX player) have noted that defensive rounds (CT sides) have been a weakness in previous events. Mistakes in coordination or utility usage have cost rounds when they should have locked them down.

Implications & What to Watch

Graviti’s statement sets the narrative: 3DMAX see themselves as contenders, but they also publicly recognize the difficulty.

For 3DMAX: If they keep winning, they could upset expectations and possibly reach playoffs deep into the bracket, which would boost their ranking, confidence, and future seeding in events.
For rivals: Other top teams will likely monitor 3DMAX, perhaps more closely scouting their strategies, especially against high-pressure matches.
For fans and analysts: Graviti’s debut as IGL is being watched carefully. Leaders in CS2 are under intense scrutiny; strong leadership can be a major differentiator in tight LAN tournaments.