HEROIC Reach Stake Ranked Episode 3 Grand Final as K27 End 3DMAX's Run

19.07.2026 - 08:21

HEROIC Reach Stake Ranked Episode 3 Grand Final as K27 End 3DMAX's Run

HEROIC are one series away from lifting the Stake Ranked Episode 3 trophy after defeating Ninjas in Pyjamas in a hard-fought upper-bracket final. The rebuilt international lineup continued its impressive run in Barcelona, earning a place in the grand final with a 2-1 victory.

Elsewhere, K27 kept their title hopes alive by eliminating 3DMAX from the lower bracket. After dispatching Phantom earlier in the day, the CIS squad produced another convincing performance behind an outstanding display from Aleksey "xeedo" Mikulich, reducing the tournament field to just three remaining teams.

Quick Summary

Category	Details
Tournament	Stake Ranked Episode 3
Upper Bracket Final	HEROIC vs Ninjas in Pyjamas
Result	HEROIC 2-1 Ninjas in Pyjamas
Maps	Inferno (13-11 HEROIC), Nuke (13-9 NiP), Mirage (13-9 HEROIC)
Lower Bracket Final	K27 vs 3DMAX
Result	K27 2-0 3DMAX
Standout Players	stavn, Chr1zN (HEROIC), xeedo (K27)
Main Storyline	HEROIC advance directly to the grand final while K27 eliminate 3DMAX to stay alive.

What Happened?

Day three in Barcelona featured the decisive upper-bracket and lower-bracket matches that shaped the tournament's closing stages.

HEROIC continued to justify expectations surrounding their revamped roster by overcoming Ninjas in Pyjamas in a competitive three-map series. Inferno proved to be the turning point, with HEROIC edging out a narrow 13-11 victory despite a strong showing from NiP's Roman "n0te" Hamze. After NiP responded on Nuke, HEROIC regained control on Mirage, where a disciplined CT side secured the series and a direct berth in the grand final.

Earlier in the lower bracket, 3DMAX stayed alive by defeating Gentle Mates, while K27 comfortably eliminated Phantom. Their meeting for survival ultimately became one-sided, as K27 swept the French side 2-0 behind a dominant performance from xeedo, who finished the series with a 2.00 HLTV rating. The defeat ended 3DMAX's campaign, while K27 advanced to face Ninjas in Pyjamas for the second grand-final berth.

Why This Matters

For HEROIC, the result is another encouraging step in the team's rebuild. The roster has shown steady improvement throughout the event, with contributions coming from both experienced players and younger talent. Reaching the grand final also guarantees additional Valve Regional Standings points, an increasingly important factor as teams compete for invitations to top-tier tournaments.

K27's victory keeps one of the tournament's surprise stories alive. The squad entered the event as an outsider but has consistently outperformed expectations, eliminating multiple established opponents on its run through the lower bracket.

Meanwhile, 3DMAX leave Barcelona with questions to answer after another tournament where they were unable to convert promising moments into a deep playoff run.

Head-to-Head Context

HEROIC and Ninjas in Pyjamas had not developed a meaningful rivalry with their current lineups prior to this event, making current form far more relevant than historical results.

K27 and 3DMAX likewise had little recent head-to-head history at this level. Their elimination match was effectively the first significant meeting between the two current rosters, leaving recent tournament form as the strongest indicator of the outcome.

Match Breakdown

Inferno — HEROIC win 13-11

The opening map remained close throughout. NiP received a strong individual performance from n0te, but HEROIC converted several crucial late-round situations to steal Inferno and take the early advantage.

Nuke — Ninjas in Pyjamas win 13-9

NiP responded well on their own pick, finding more consistency on both sides of the map. Their structure prevented HEROIC from building momentum and forced the series onto a deciding map.

Mirage — HEROIC win 13-9

The decider showcased HEROIC's defensive discipline. A strong CT half created enough separation, allowing the team to close out the series and book its place in the grand final. stavn and the young Belgian core played major roles in the decisive victory.

Key Players

Martin "stavn" Lund — HEROIC

stavn continued to provide the firepower expected from one of HEROIC's stars, delivering impact rounds throughout the upper-bracket final and helping stabilize the team in key moments.

Christoffer "Chr1zN" Storgaard — HEROIC

The in-game leader has quickly settled into his role, balancing leadership responsibilities with strong individual performances as HEROIC continue to improve.

Aleksey "xeedo" Mikulich — K27

xeedo was the standout performer of the day outside the upper bracket. His exceptional 2.00 rating against 3DMAX turned the elimination match into a comfortable victory for K27.

Roman "n0te" Hamze — Ninjas in Pyjamas

Despite the defeat, n0te remained NiP's brightest performer, particularly on Inferno, where he posted one of the best individual ratings in the series.

Interesting Facts and Context

HEROIC reached the grand final without dropping into the lower bracket.
K27 won two consecutive best-of-three series on day three to remain in title contention.
3DMAX managed to eliminate Gentle Mates before falling short against K27 later the same day.
The tournament features a $100,000 prize pool and valuable Valve Regional Standings points, making every playoff match significant beyond the prize money.

What Comes Next?

HEROIC advanced directly to the Stake Ranked Episode 3 grand final, where they awaited the winner of the lower-bracket final between Ninjas in Pyjamas and K27.

For K27, the challenge was far from over, needing one more playoff victory to earn a rematch with HEROIC. Meanwhile, 3DMAX exited the event after finishing their lower-bracket run in the final elimination match.