3DMAX Captain Lucky: “We’re capable of having a high ceiling, but we just lack consistency”

3DMAX Captain Lucky: “We’re capable of having a high ceiling, but we just lack consistency”

Team 3DMAX entered PGL Masters Bucharest 2025 with hope and expectation — ranked among the world’s top 10 and fresh off a strong showing at CAC — yet their campaign ended prematurely in the Swiss stage. Following a 0–2 elimination at the hands of Astralis, 3DMAX captain Lucas “Lucky” Chastang delivered an honest post-match reflection:

“We’re capable of having a high ceiling, but we just lack the consistency, obviously.”

Early promise meets fast fall

The team kicked off Bucharest with a convincing 2–0 victory over SAW, showcasing their fire-power and map depth. However, subsequent results told a different story: losses to B8 and FlyQuest preceded their final elimination by Astralis in a 0–2 finish. 

Lucky admitted fatigue and travel delay may have played a part:

“Maybe we were just exhausted from all the traveling and all the playing.” 

For a squad that had reached the CAC grand-final and arrived with expectations of breaking into the Major playoffs, the outcome was a let-down — one made sharper by the way it unfolded.

Breakdown of what went wrong

Streaky performance and in-map lapses
Lucky pointed to a cluster of issues: “A lot of things went wrong, a lot of stupid mistakes… we were also off individually.” These individual slumps were made costlier by 3DMAX’s structure relying on top-level output every map.

Map pool gaps
One recurring theme Lucky raised was an identified weakness on the map Ancient:

“We know Ancient has been a weak map for us for a long time now. We’re trying to address it… we need to improve it, if we want to make into the top 8, top 5, consistently.” 
Given Ancient’s usage in high‐level vetoes, that weakness stands out. The team also flagged other “maps where we are not that confident.”

Mental/physical fatigue & scheduling crunch
3DMAX’s recent schedule had been intense: they played several major events back-to-back (including Europe/EPL, China, then Romania) with little downtime. As one forum comment noted:

“Expected results honestly, their schedule was a bit weird doing Europe (EPL) > China (CAC) > Europe (PGL) and after that they’re going to Chengdu. The fatigue/jet-lag is hitting them I think.” 

The tight turnaround likely impacted practice time, recovery and mental sharpness — vital in close map decisions.

What they still have — and must capitalise on

Despite the early exit, Lucky underlined the team’s upside:

“I think we’re really capable of having a high ceiling.”
It’s a positive affirmation: 3DMAX have shown glimpses of brilliance, and the CAC run suggests they have the fragging talent and strategic competence to disrupt higher-ranked opponents.

Their path forward, Lucky believes, lies in building consistency: practice regimes, map-versatility and stamina across events. He emphasised the importance of the weeks ahead:

“We will go to Chengdu now, and we will have a couple of weeks home after that. I think those weeks are going to be really good for us to be able to play at our best level at the Major.” 

Relevance to the tournament and scene

• Swiss format hazard: In the 5-round Swiss system (PGL Masters), teams which lose early face elimination matches immediately. 3DMAX fell into the 1–2 pool and were eliminated — reinforcing how critical early momentum is.

• Tournament dynamics: Other teams like HEROIC and paiN locked playoff spots early (3–0 or 2–0 records). 3DMAX’s stumble underscores how expectation and ranking alone don’t guarantee progression.

• Major looming: With the next major event (the Budapest Major) on the horizon, 3DMAX’s problems are convenient mark-up points for rivals. If they cannot rectify map pool and consistency issues, their potential ceiling will remain untested at high stakes.

Moving forward

To realise the “high ceiling” Lucky referenced, 3DMAX must convert flashes of brilliance into stable performance. Key focus areas:

1. Map pool stabilization – particularly Ancient and other weaker maps.

2. Individual consistency – avoid the kind of off-days Lucky cited.

3. Endurance and schedule management – prioritise recovery and preparation ahead of major events.

4. Mental resilience – ensuring minor losses do not cascade into map-ended blowouts or series collapses.

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Final thought

3DMAX came to PGL Masters Bucharest 2025 with credentials, yet exited in disappointing fashion. Lucky’s candid comments about inconsistency hit the mark: talent and high-level ability are present, but without the durability, map depth and consistency required, the roster falls short of its ceiling. As the Major approaches, the time to convert potential into results is now.