Team Spirit began their ESL Pro League Season 23 Stage 2 campaign with a controlled 2–0 victory over 3DMAX, showcasing strong structure and individual form across both maps. The CIS squad secured Nuke (13–10) and Overpass (13–7), never allowing the French lineup to truly take control of the series. The match also highlighted another standout performance from Danil “donk” Kryshkovets, who dominated the server and earned Player of the Match honors with a stellar all-around display.
Nuke — Spirit punish mistakes to take the opener (13–10)
The series started on Nuke, selected by 3DMAX, but Spirit quickly showed they were comfortable on the map. The early rounds were relatively balanced as both teams traded momentum, with Graviti and Maka finding a few key entries to keep the French side competitive.
However, once the game reached the mid-stage rounds, Spirit’s structure began to take over. donk repeatedly found opening duels around outside control, while sh1ro and zont1x provided stability in late-round situations. Their ability to convert small advantages into round wins gradually tilted the map in Spirit’s favor.
3DMAX still managed to keep the scoreline within reach, but several failed retake attempts ultimately proved costly. Spirit closed the map 13–10, capitalizing on their stronger coordination and superior clutch efficiency.
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Overpass — Spirit take full control (13–7)
If the opening map was competitive, Overpass quickly became a one-sided affair.
Spirit looked far more comfortable on their own pick, starting with a confident defensive half where their setups around B site and connector repeatedly shut down 3DMAX’s attacks. donk continued to dominate the scoreboard, while magixx and zont1x provided consistent support in crossfires.
3DMAX struggled to establish any rhythm on the T side, frequently losing early map control and being forced into late-round executes with limited utility. The French team briefly showed signs of life with a few aggressive plays, but Spirit’s discipline in the mid-round prevented any real comeback attempt.
Switching sides with a comfortable lead, Spirit closed the map with confident executes to secure a 13–7 victory and complete the 2–0 sweep.
Match statistics
Player of the Match — Danil “donk” Kryshkovets
Across two maps:
- 46–23 K-D
- +6.62% swing
- 104.8 ADR
- 86.0% KAST
- 1.79 rating
Beyond the numbers, donk dictated the tempo of the series with relentless entry work and constant pressure in opening duels, repeatedly breaking 3DMAX’s defensive setups.
VRS impact
The result also had a small impact on the Valve Regional Standings (VRS).
After the victory, Spirit gained +5 VRS points, strengthening their position around the top-10 of the global ranking and further solidifying their status among the teams competing for direct invites to the biggest tournaments of the season.
For 3DMAX, the defeat resulted in a –3 VRS point change, causing a slight drop in the rankings and increasing the pressure on the French side to secure wins in the following Swiss rounds of ESL Pro League Season 23 Stage 2.
Team reactions
Both teams briefly reacted to the result on social media shortly after the series concluded.
Team Spirit kept the message short and confident following their clean victory. In a post on X, the organization wrote:
2–0. Clean victory. See you tomorrow — signaling calm confidence after a solid opening performance in Stage 2.
The tone from 3DMAX was more reflective after the defeat. The French organization acknowledged that the team showed improvement but admitted it was not enough to secure the win:
Better but not enough, 0–1 in groups! Next match tomorrow.
The message suggests that despite the loss, 3DMAX believe there were positive signs in their performance and will aim to bounce back quickly in the next Swiss round.
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What this result means for the tournament
The victory gives Spirit a strong start in the Swiss stage of ESL Pro League Season 23 Stage 2, immediately placing them in the 1–0 pool and strengthening their position in the early race for playoff qualification. For 3DMAX, the loss sends them into the 0–1 bracket, where the French team will now need to recover quickly to avoid falling into elimination territory in the coming rounds. Spirit’s performance also reinforced their reputation as one of the most dangerous teams in the event — combining strong individual form with disciplined team play.
