3DMAX approach the start of ESL Pro League S22 with an unexpected rotation — Nivera will replace Maka, who will miss the beginning of the tournament due to personal reasons. For the Belgian, this is a chance to return to the top scene after a long break, and for the French organization — an opportunity to test the roster’s depth in their match against Inner Circle.
🚨 Roster Update 🚨@Nivera__ will join us for the start of EPL S22 as @Makazin_ is unavailable for family reasons
Let's get down to business 🤜🏼🤛🏼#DevilNeverDies 👹 pic.twitter.com/tVL7mW2ERZ
— Team 3DMAX (@3DMAXGaming) September 24, 2025
CURRENT 3DMAX ROSTER AT THE START OF THE TOURNAMENT
The team will begin their campaign in Sweden with the following lineup:
- Pierre “Ex3rcice” Bulinge
- Lucas “Lucky” Chastang
- Filip “Graviti” Brankovic
- Alexandre “bodyy” Pianaro
- Nabil “Nivera” Benrlitom (stand-in)
- Pierre “YouKnow” Marco (coach)
A LOOK AT THE START AGAINST INNER CIRCLE
3DMAX’s first opponent at ESL Pro League S22 — Inner Circle — will serve as a test of stability and depth. While the French squad enters as favorites, the ranking gap does not guarantee an easy walkover. Inner Circle have already shown the ability to challenge stronger teams, and their specific map pool could pose an unpleasant surprise.
- 3DMAX are traditionally strong on Inferno and Nuke, where they build their play around discipline and tempo control. Inner Circle, meanwhile, rely on Ancient and Dust2, where their aggression and fast-paced executions often bring results. The fate of the opening match may well be decided during the pick-ban phase: any mistake could give the opponent “their battlefield.”
- Individual duels also deserve attention. Lucky remains a consistent statistical leader for 3DMAX, but Inner Circle’s Dawy is capable of disrupting plans with his aggressive playstyle. Another factor is the presence of Nivera as a stand-in: the opponent has no clear information about his role within the team, which could bring an element of surprise. At the same time, the French squad’s cohesion will inevitably be weaker.
- For Inner Circle, a victory here would mean an upset and a chance to make noise on the international stage. For 3DMAX, this is more of a test of readiness to fight for advancement without room for error. In the Swiss system, the opening clash often sets the tone for the entire tournament, so the French cannot afford to underestimate their opponents.
TEAM CONDITION BEFORE EPL S22
Over the past three months, 3DMAX have shown inconsistency: defeats to Virtus.pro, FaZe, and GamerLegion contrasted with victories over TYLOO and The MongolZ, proving that the potential is there. The team currently holds 13th place in the world ranking, while Inner Circle sit at 47th. This makes the French side the favorites in the opening match.
NIVERA’S ROLE IN THE UPDATED STRUCTURE
A key detail is that Graviti recently took over in-game leading duties. This means that replacing the sniper at the start of EPL will have less impact on the overall game structure. Nivera is known for his experience in big matches and steady statistics (with an average rating of 1.14 in 2025), which adds confidence to the team during Maka’s absence.
ANALYTICAL OUTLOOK AND PERSPECTIVES
A temporary substitution in a key tournament always carries risk, but in the case of 3DMAX it might even be a plus. Nivera will get the chance to reintroduce himself on the big stage, while the team can experiment with different tactical approaches without long-term pressure. If 3DMAX manage to overcome their initial opponents and secure progression to the second stage, Maka’s return could only strengthen the roster in the decisive phases.
Right now, 3DMAX look like a team capable of competing within the top 20, but the match against Inner Circle will show whether they can truly uphold their status as favorites under real conditions.
