3DMAX continue their best tournament run in years — in the decisive 2–2 pool match, the French-Serbian roster convincingly defeated Ninjas in Pyjamas 2–0. The team looked fully cohesive on both maps, completely breaking NiP’s structure and imposing a pace the Swedish-European lineup had no answer to. For NiP, this loss marks the end of their Major journey — the team never regained control after their shaky start to Stage 2.
Tournament Path — two trajectories heading in opposite directions
NiP opened the tournament with confidence, but their form evaporated day by day:
- 13–10 vs Astralis — confident start
- 13–8 vs TYLOO — solid discipline
- 0–2 vs FaZe — the first serious warning
- 0–2 vs PARIVISION — a painful collapse
- 0–2 vs 3DMAX — the final blow
The team consistently lost opening duels, and their attacking structure fell apart after the very first picks.
3DMAX kept climbing throughout the event:
- 6–13 vs fnatic — rough start
- 13–7 vs FlyQuest — back on track
- 13–3 vs Passion UA — major stabilization
- 2–1 vs B8 — good opening but shaky mid-match
- 2–0 vs NiP — the team’s best performance of the Major
The French-Serbian roster finally displayed the level expected from them since the start of the season: sharp decisions, aggressive positional takes, and deep strategic layers.
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Ancient — 13:3. Total collapse for NiP on their own map pick
NiP picked Ancient hoping to control the game with compact, disciplined CT setups — but their plan fell apart almost immediately. 3DMAX overwhelmed them with pace, accuracy, and complete dominance over mid. Maka won every key duel in the center, Graviti held A-site without breaking, and bodyy repeatedly dismantled NiP in late-rounds. The Swedes lost every clutch, their economy collapsed after each trade, and at 10–2 it was already obvious they had no way back.
Train — 13:8. 3DMAX close out the series through discipline
Train was the only map where NiP tried to keep up, but even in tight rounds it was clear 3DMAX controlled the entire flow. Ex3rcice consistently won crucial Ivy and connector fights, Lucky shut down B executes, while Maka applied constant AWP pressure. NiP once again lost their mid-round structure, and their A-site approaches became predictable and easy to read. After 3DMAX chained five rounds in a row, the outcome of the series was effectively sealed.
Player Stats — full match overview
MVP of the Match — Bryan “Maka” Canda
- 1.70 rating (2 maps)
- 78.9 ADR
- +8.28% swing
- key AWP duels on Ancient
- consistent late-round impact
- 4 USP-S headshots in a critical round
- complete mid control on Train
This was one of Maka’s best performances of the year.
Team Play Breakdown — analytical overview
3DMAX produced one of the most cohesive performances of the entire stage: disciplined, structured and fully synchronized. Their rotations were fast and logical, utility was used with maximum efficiency, and they won most high-pressure trade duels without overextending. 3DMAX dominated mid control on both maps and handled clutch scenarios with confidence, moving like a single unit and giving NiP no room to recover.
Ninjas in Pyjamas, on the other hand, looked lost: they lost opening duels, failed retakes even with numerical advantage, and their attacking entries became predictable and easy to counter. In late-rounds the team repeatedly fell into chaos, losing any sense of structure — and without proper adaptation to 3DMAX’s disciplined aggression, the outcome became inevitable.
Team Reaction — quick comments after securing Stage 3
- bodyy — calm confidence
Plat du pied sécurité, stage 3 ✅
— Alexandre Pianaro (@bodyy) December 2, 2025
A short, composed message that perfectly reflects 3DMAX’s mindset: no panic, no chaos — just a clean, confident step forward.
- Ex3rcice — emotional energy for France
STAGE 3 for la FRANCEEEEEEE 🇫🇷✅
2-0 vs @NIP.#DevilNeverDies
— 3DMAX Ex3rcice (@Ex3rcice) December 2, 2025
A fiery, emotional celebration that quickly spread across social media — pure pride and adrenaline after a statement victory.
- 3DMAX (official account) — gratitude and fighting spirit
Thank you everbody for your support ❤️
LET'S KEEP FIGHTING !#DevilNeverDies 👹 pic.twitter.com/UvmexoJItN
— Team 3DMAX (@3DMAXGaming) December 2, 2025
The team thanked the fans and immediately set the tone for the next stage: no slowing down, full focus, full hunger.
VRS Changes
- 3DMAX: +12 pt (#17 → #16) — an important leap forward ahead of Stage 3
- NiP: –10 pt (#25 → #26) — a drop that highlights the severity of the team’s crisis
Skin.Club Pick’em Challenge
Running alongside the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 is the Skin.Club Pick’em Challenge — an interactive feature where fans predict match results, choose advancing teams, and earn points throughout the tournament. By making accurate picks, participants unlock rewards ranging from premium skins to rare gloves and knives, with the ultimate prize being the iconic AWP | Dragon Lore.
Final Take
3DMAX deservedly advance to Stage 3, showcasing mature, balanced and confident CS across both maps. The team enters the top-16 with full control over the match and without allowing NiP to dictate a single phase of play. Ninjas in Pyjamas exit the Major in decline — with structural issues, weak individual form, and no tangible progress in team play. 3DMAX move forward — and with this level of discipline, they could deliver even more surprises in Stage 3. You can check the full list of teams that qualified for Stage 3, along with a breakdown of the key matches, in our recap StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 — Stage 2.
