Kyousuke Shines as Falcons Eliminate 3DMAX at IEM Kraków 2026

Kyousuke Shines as Falcons Eliminate 3DMAX at IEM Kraków 2026

At the IEM Kraków 2026 Stage 2 Counter-Strike 2 event, Falcons delivered a convincing performance to knock 3DMAX out of the tournament in the lower bracket, with young Russian star Maxim “kyousuke” Lukin putting on a standout display that propelled his team to a 2–0 series victory. 

Competing in one of the most tightly contested regional fields this season, Falcons managed to turn around a shaky early string of results and navigate a tough bracket to stay alive in Kraków. Their win over 3DMAX sees the French side exit the tournament in joint-ninth place, marking a disappointing end after a promising opening win against FaZe Clan and a heavy loss to Vitality earlier in Stage 2. 

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Match Breakdown: Anubis and Dust2 Results

The series consisted of two maps — Anubis and Dust2 — both of which Falcons won with relative comfort.

Map 1 — Anubis

Falcons took an early lead on Anubis with strong gunplay and tactical aggression, heading into halftime with a commanding advantage and eventually closing out the map 13–5. Kyousuke was especially dominant, consistently accumulating multi-kill rounds and outpacing the opposition’s damage output. 

Map 2 — Dust2

Dust2 was more competitive early on, with 3DMAX winning the pistol and securing several rounds before Falcons equalized. Despite some mid-game pressure from the French squad, Falcons tightened their defense on the CT side and ultimately secured the second map 13–9, sealing the series without it reaching a decider. 

This 2–0 result confirmed Falcons’ clean sweep of the series and ensured that 3DMAX would not proceed further in the Stage 2 bracket. 

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Kyousuke’s MVP Performance

The standout narrative of the match was unquestionably Kyousuke, who posted an exceptional 1.87 player rating across both maps — clearly reflecting his high impact in key rounds. 

Some key individual statistics from the HLTV match page show exactly how influential he was:

• 43 kills — the most on the server

• 108.2 ADR (Average Damage per Round) — highest on his team

• Top overall rating of the entire match
  These numbers underline not just flashiness, but consistent high-impact play across both attack and defense phases.

His sharp aim and early entry fragging helped Falcons establish momentum on both maps, forcing 3DMAX into defensive postures from which they could not recover.

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Falcons’ Tactical Identity and Team Play

While Kyousuke’s individual exploits dominated headlines, Falcons also received vital support from teammates — particularly Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov and Damjan “kyxsan” Stoilkovski — who combined disciplined utility usage and mid-round decision making to lock down crucial rounds. 

From tactical defaults to balanced aggression, Falcons showed a coherent map plan that allowed their star to take over when it mattered. This has been a recurring theme for the team across recent months — blending young talent with strategic maturity against top opposition.

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3DMAX’s Run and Exit

3DMAX had earlier shown promise in the Stage 2 bracket, opening with an upset over FaZe Clan before succumbing to losses against Vitality and finally Falcons. Their elimination places them in joint-ninth at the event, a middling result relative to their expectations but still noteworthy considering the strength of the draw. 

Despite losing, individual contributions from players such as Filip “Graviti” Brankovic and Alexandre “bodyy” Pianaro kept 3DMAX competitive — especially on Dust2 before Falcons began to assert control. 

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What’s Next for Falcons

With this victory, Falcons now need one more win to secure a place in the TAURON Arena later stages of the IEM Kraków event. Their next opponent will be MOUZ, another well-established European roster. The matchup promises to test Falcons’ resilience further and could define their trajectory in the tournament. 

For Falcons, anything short of a deep run at this event would be considered a disappointment given their roster talent and recent results. Staying alive through the lower bracket will require consistency and mental fortitude against teams of a similar caliber. (

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Historical Context Between Falcons and 3DMAX

This recent clash adds to a growing rivalry between Falcons and 3DMAX. The two teams have met multiple times over the past year in high-profile competitions, including ESL Pro League Season 22 (2025), where Falcons also defeated 3DMAX in a tight 2-1 series during the quarterfinals. That past encounter saw both teams trade impressive tactical wins before Falcons edged ahead, reinforcing the narrative of competitive balance between these squads. 

That history adds another layer to their IEM Kraków series — highlighting that while 3DMAX and Falcons have been evenly matched in the past, the momentum currently favors the Russian-led side.