The Esports World Cup 2025 turned into one of the worst moments in recent years for Natus Vincere. Just a year ago, the team triumphed in Riyadh, lifting a world-class trophy, but this time they sensationally crashed out in the very first playoff round at the hands of 3DMAX. And while in Cologne NAVI still showed glimpses of stability with their new player Drin “makazze” Shaqiri, subsequent results proved disappointing: an early exit from BLAST Bounty Season 2 and now a collapse on the summer’s biggest stage.
A Failure That Exposed Old Problems
On Inferno, NAVI had every chance to close out the series, but a string of small mistakes turned into a disaster. Wasted 5v3 and 4v2 advantages, a failed anti-eco, lack of control over key areas — all of this gave 3DMAX an opportunity they seized with ruthless composure. NAVI looked disorganized, while their opponents grew more confident with each round.The captain admitted that:
Maybe there was miscommunication, maybe someone decided to act on their own — but the result is the same: we lost control.
These words only highlighted NAVI’s recurring weakness: instead of structured team play, chaos emerges at critical moments. On Nuke, the scenario repeated itself: a solid run on the CT side gave hope, but the decisive rounds went to 3DMAX. And here again NAVI’s main issue came to light — the inability to close games under pressure.
A Psychological Blow to the Team
If in Cologne the “black-and-yellow” still looked like a team with potential, in Riyadh they appeared drained and inconsistent. Even Aleksib did not hide his disappointment, admitting that after losing a 1v1 clutch — despite making four kills — “I literally felt sick to my stomach.”
The problem is not only in lost rounds but also in the team’s state of mind: NAVI seem stuck between the past and the future. They no longer display the stability of their title-winning days, but the new version of the roster with makazze has yet to take full shape.
A Ray of Light — the Young makazze
Despite the overall defeat, Drin “makazze” Shaqiri was arguably the main positive takeaway from the series. For him, this was only his second big LAN, yet he looked confident, communicated actively, and even in difficult moments tried to take initiative. The captain spoke of him:
I’m proud of his performance; he deserved more matches here. You could see he wanted to figure out every situation, even if it was too much information at times.
Such recognition demonstrates that even in crisis NAVI still have a foundation for the future. Makazze is already showing traits the rest of the roster seems to lack — hunger, flexibility, and the will to fight for every round.
What’s Next?
The biggest question for NAVI now is whether this roster can find confidence and stability by the end of the season. Even Aleksib admitted that “we’ve taken a few steps back since Cologne,” making the recovery of self-belief the number one task. He added:
Right now it feels like we’re back at the starting line. We have to find a way to use 100% of the team and put this moment behind us. That will be the key going forward.
Up next for NAVI is a bootcamp and the BLAST qualification in London. It’s a chance to fix mistakes, but there is little time. The schedule remains packed, and any new setback risks shaking the team’s morale even further.
The defeat to 3DMAX is not just the tournament’s upset — it’s a wake-up call that NAVI have lost their status as a reliable top contender. The team has talented players and resources, but their main issue lies in psychology and team chemistry. They too often lose control in key moments and react too painfully to defeats.
At the same time, there is hope: new blood in the roster that can inject drive and ambition into the squad. But to capitalize on this chance, NAVI need more than just a bootcamp — they need a fundamental shift in approach. Otherwise, 2025, which began with high hopes, risks ending in another disappointment.
