Maka: “Graviti can see what I wasn’t able to — I wasn’t putting players in optimal positions”

Maka: “Graviti can see what I wasn’t able to — I wasn’t putting players in optimal positions”

Bryan “Maka” Canda recently addressed his decision to relinquish in-game leadership (IGL) duties to Filip “Graviti” Brankovic at 3DMAX, explaining how it’s impacted both his own role and the team’s strategy. 

IGL Shift and Early Turbulence

The leadership change occurred just before the Esports World Cup, as 3DMAX sought to refine their structure without substituting a player. Lucky, Maka’s teammate, commented on the adjustment:

“We had a better showing against The MongolZ and we beat NAVI … It’s going to give Maka more freedom to play at his full potential.” 

Despite some initial success—such as the win over Natus Vincere in Riyadh and a title at the Perfect World CS Challenge — 3DMAX hit a rough patch in FISSURE Playground 2, where they exited in the group stage after a run of losses.  Maka reflected:

“Even though it went well for the team, I couldn’t find my place in the team. Everything is connected … I also wasn’t feeling good outside my professional life, so everything builds up fast and you’re playing worse and worse.” 

Maka’s Highlight & Perspective on Graviti’s Vision

At the ESL Pro League, Maka delivered a standout moment: a triple one-tap on Train against NAVI, a clip that’s being hailed as a potential highlight of the year.  In a reaction to watching the clip live, Maka described the moment:

“I was so surprised, even by myself. … On the second one tap I heard the casters … it brought me some fire for the third one.” 
“I saw him on my screen and I just tapped … everything seems so slow … it was really slow, like a couple of seconds in a kinda flowstate.” 

Regarding Graviti’s leadership, Maka had this to say:

“He is able to see what I was not able to, because some players are probably not in the best positions sometimes, I was maybe not using them in the best position on some maps, and I think he sees it.” 

Essentially, Maka admits he struggled to deploy teammates optimally, and credits Graviti with bringing a clearer tactical perspective.

Graviti’s View & Growing Confidence

Graviti, now 21, has spoken about his vision for the team and early results under his leadership. In a recent interview, he said:

“We beat the best team in the tournament right now, so I think it will give us some confidence.” 

He also elaborated on adjusting roles, especially for Ex3rcice:

“I know exactly what he needs to be good, and I’m trying to put him in the best situation.” 

On balance, for players such as bodyy, Maka, and Lucky, Graviti said he gives them space but maintains control in mid-rounds. 

Recent Results & Outlook

3DMAX recently secured a key win over NAVI at ESL Pro League, moving into the 2-1 bracket.  In that series, 3DMAX won Inferno 13–11, dropped Train 11–13, and closed out on Nuke 13–8.  Maka’s performance was pivotal in that match. 

Earlier, when 3DMAX upset MongolZ in a tournament under Graviti’s calling, he commented:

“It’s really difficult … when MongolZ have momentum, they don’t let you win a round.” 

He also noted that he’s still imprinting his style on the team:

“I’m trying to leave some space, but at the same time keep up the control on the rounds.” 

Broader Implications & Challenges Ahead

The experiment in leadership reshuffling—rather than replacing a player—has both upsides and risks. Lucky viewed it as a chance to free Maka to perform more independently.

For Maka, this transition has been emotionally and professionally taxing, and he admits the stress had negative effects.

Graviti, in turn, is under pressure to consolidate his vision whilst managing the different personalities and playstyles in the team.

The results so far have been a mixed bag—impressive upsets, but also inconsistencies. The upcoming matches in ESL Pro League and other events will be key to measuring whether this internal shift pays dividends.