The Ukrainian team B8 and the French lineup 3DMAX began their journey at PGL Masters Bucharest 2025 with convincing victories. This tournament has become an arena where even the first match can set the tone for the entire competition, and both teams have taken an important step toward success.
Tournament context
PGL Masters Bucharest 2025 is a prestigious LAN tournament held in Bucharest, Romania, from October 26 to November 1, 2025. Sixteen teams are competing for a total prize pool of $1,250,000.
The event is part of the Valve Regional Standings (VRS) system — tournament results affect the distribution of qualification slots for the next Major. The format is Swiss System: teams with two victories advance to the next stage, while two losses mean elimination.
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How the match unfolded — B8 vs Astralis
The Ukrainians started the tournament with a very confident performance, defeating Astralis 2:0 (16:12 Mirage, 13:4 Ancient).
- Mirage (B8 pick) — 16:12. Astralis tried to impose their tempo, but alex666 and npl showed excellent form. Team coordination and aggressive pushes toward the A-site allowed B8 to maintain control for most of the rounds.
- Ancient (Astralis pick) — 13:4. Complete domination by the Ukrainians. Astralis looked disoriented, while kensizor and headtr1ck consistently closed out rounds in favor of B8.
Player of the Match — Oleksii “alex666” Yarmoshchuk
- K–D: 47–28
- ADR: 113.1
- Rating 3.0: 1.61
- KAST: 88.9%
Oleksii “alex666” Yarmoshchuk became the true driving force behind the victory. His consistent play, sharp aim, and high survival rate made him the key factor in the series.
VRS rating after the match — B8 vs Astralis
- B8: +61 points (1387 → 1448 VRS), rise to #19 in the world
- Astralis: –17 points (1566 → 1549 VRS), fall to #15
The result allowed B8 to significantly improve their position in the world ranking and reach the level of mid-tier teams. For Astralis, however, this defeat became an alarming signal — the team needs to regain balance before the upcoming match against MIBR.
How the match unfolded — 3DMAX vs SAW
The French lineup 3DMAX demonstrated disciplined and confident play, defeating SAW 2:0 (13:5 Ancient, 13:8 Nuke).
- Ancient (SAW pick) — 13:5. The Portuguese side couldn’t find an answer to the solid defense of the French. Graviti and Lucky neutralized key attacks, ensuring dominance from the very beginning.
- Nuke (3DMAX pick) — 13:8. Even their own map didn’t help SAW. The French continued their aggressive play with precise timing, maintaining tempo and closing the series without much difficulty.
Player of the Match — Lucas “Lucky” Chastang
- K–D: 39–20
- ADR: 98.3
- Rating 3.0: 1.60
- KAST: 82.1%
Lucky became the true backbone of the team. His AWP control and composure in decisive moments made the difference between victory and a potential SAW comeback.
VRS rating after the match — 3DMAX vs SAW
- 3DMAX: +6 points (1737 → 1743 VRS), maintaining #9 position
- SAW: +2 points (1305 → 1307 VRS), remain at #32
Despite the loss, SAW gained a small VRS increase thanks to participation in a major-tier tournament, while 3DMAX solidified their status as a top-10 team.
What’s next for the teams
B8 continues in the 1:0 stage, where on October 27 they will face 3DMAX. This will be a serious test for both teams, who have shown excellent form in the opening round.
Astralis moves to the 0:1 group and will play against MIBR — a match that will be crucial in keeping their qualification hopes alive.
SAW, in turn, will face Ninjas in Pyjamas. The Portuguese lineup will need to show character to avoid an early exit.
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Match summary
B8 and 3DMAX started at PGL Masters Bucharest 2025 with maximum strength. Both teams demonstrated a balance between individual skill and team coordination. For the Ukrainians, this is a historic start that confirms their readiness to compete with the top teams.
Astralis and SAW, meanwhile, are under pressure — a loss in the next match could put their ambitions in jeopardy.
B8 versus 3DMAX — this matchup on October 27 will become the first real test of strength for both winners of the opening round.
