3DMAX Send FaZe Into the Elimination Zone After Rain’s Return

3DMAX Send FaZe Into the Elimination Zone After Rain’s Return

In a strong showing, 3DMAX defeated FaZe 2-0 in the decisive match of ESL Pro League’s second stage, dealing FaZe a major blow in their quest to stay alive. 

FaZe’s path had already been rocky: in their first match, they were forced to forfeit against G2 because they could not field at least three players from the originally invited roster.  The team late substituted Håvard “rain” Nygaard, who flew in just before the start of the FaZe-3DMAX match to meet the tournament’s roster requirements. 

However, rain struggled in his return. Arriving from the airport roughly 30 minutes before the match, he had a subpar performance, which contributed to FaZe’s difficulties.  Meanwhile, FaZe made a surprising map choice: they floated Train in the veto despite not having played it for six months. 3DMAX capitalized on that, winning Train 13-9 even though FaZe secured both pistol rounds.

On Dust2, the contest turned chaotic — and unlike most matches, it did not favor FaZe. A critical misjudgment in round 11 allowed 3DMAX to claw their way back, as FaZe mistakenly assumed the French side was saving weapons after an afterplant in a 5v5. FaZe had held a 10-6 lead but failed to close it. 3DMAX, driven by an impressive rifling display from Bryan “Maka” Canda, sealed the map 13-11. 

The defeat leaves FaZe on precarious footing, teetering on the brink of elimination from this Pro League stage.