Inner Circle Pull Off Major Upset to Eliminate 3DMAX at BLAST Bounty Winter 2026

Inner Circle Pull Off Major Upset to Eliminate 3DMAX at BLAST Bounty Winter 2026

In one of the most surprising results so far at the BLAST Bounty Winter 2026 Closed Qualifier, Inner Circle has scored a dramatic 2–1 victory over 3DMAX, knocking the French squad out of the competition and advancing into the Round of 16. 

The series — played on January 15 as part of the online Stage 1 Round of 32 — saw Inner Circle, the 25th seed in the event, upset 3DMAX, who entered as the 10th seed and were widely seen as the favorites. 

Match Breakdown

The best-of-three showdown unfolded with each side showcasing contrasting strengths across the maps:

• Map 1 – Ancient: Inner Circle’s own pick. The Ukrainian team built a solid 8–4 lead at halftime on the attacking side, and although 3DMAX narrowed the gap, Inner Circle held firm to win 13–9. Standout performances, particularly on the CT side from cptkurtka023, were key to securing the opening victory.

• Map 2 – Nuke: 3DMAX answered back with force. After a fast 4–0 start, 3DMAX maintained control and closed out the map 16–13, largely leveling the series and forcing a decider.

• Map 3 – Dust2: In the decider, Inner Circle put together a commanding performance, establishing another 8–4 halftime lead and continuing to dominate on both sides of the bombsites. They closed out the series with a convincing 13–6 win to send 3DMAX home early.

This victory demonstrates Inner Circle’s improved tactical depth and resilience, especially considering the pressure of facing a higher–ranked opponent and the do-or-die format of BLAST Bounty’s Closed Qualifier. 

Format and Stakes at BLAST Bounty Winter 2026

BLAST Bounty Winter 2026 marks one of the first major Counter-Strike 2 events of the year, featuring a distinctive “bounty” format where teams not only progress through the bracket but also accrue prize money directly tied to their victories and eliminations. 

The Closed Qualifier, held online from January 13–18, includes 32 teams competing for just eight spots in the next stage, with top performances potentially leading to the live LAN Finals in Malta later in January. 

A number of other notable organizations have already fallen early in the tournament — including FaZe, Natus Vincere, and Virtus.pro — underscoring how unpredictable the BLAST Bounty format has proven to be. 

Implications of the Upset

With this victory, Inner Circle moves one step further toward qualification for the Malta LAN Finals, where the stakes and prize money rise substantially. Their next opponent in the Round of 16 will be another team emerging from the fiercely competitive Closed Qualifier bracket. 

3DMAX, on the other hand, now exits the event early — finishing between 17th and 32nd place alongside other early casualties of the opening round. 

Team Performances & Player Impact

Statistics from the match reveal tightly contested action and individual contributions:

• Inner Circle: Key performers on the Ukrainian side included cptkurtka023, whose defense on Ancient was pivotal. zeRRoFIX also delivered an impactful quad-kill on overtime pushes, while Dawy stepped up significantly on Dust2.

• 3DMAX: The French roster, featuring players such as Maka, had moments of dominance — particularly on Nuke — but was unable to maintain consistency across the series.

Community reaction to the upset has been active on platforms like Reddit and live scoreboards, with many fans highlighting Inner Circle’s strategic discipline and synergy as central to their success. 

BLAST Bounty’s Broader Early Drama

This match is just one of several major results in the early stages of BLAST Bounty Winter 2026. Other upsets include:

• Team Vitality’s 2–0 win over Virtus.pro.

• Monte’s surprise elimination of Natus Vincere.

• Gentle Mates defeating M80 in another Round of 32 matchup.

Such outcomes reflect a highly volatile closed qualifier, where underdogs can topple established squads and reshape the competitive landscape early in the new CS2 season.