The Stage 1 Round of 32 clash between Inner Circle and 3DMAX ended with a hard-fought 2–1 victory for Inner Circle. The series followed a familiar but tense script: a strong start from the favorites on Ancient, a narrow setback on Nuke, and a decisive close on Dust2 to shut the door.
Road to the matchup — control versus resistance
- 3DMAX — looking for openings on Nuke
Coming in as underdogs, 3DMAX leaned on Nuke as their best chance to swing the series. Their plan revolved around structured T-side defaults and capitalizing on tight late-round situations. While that approach paid off on their map pick, it demanded near-perfect execution elsewhere — something they struggled to maintain.
- Inner Circle — depth and flexibility
Inner Circle entered the series with a clear edge in depth. Rather than forcing tempo, they relied on solid spacing, patient mid-round calls, and a strong balance of firepower across the lineup, allowing them to absorb pressure and respond map by map.
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Ancient — 13:9. Inner Circle set the tone
On their own pick, Inner Circle established early control. Consistent opening trades and strong CT-side setups denied 3DMAX space and quickly put pressure on their economy. 3DMAX had moments of resistance, but they struggled to string rounds together. Inner Circle closed Ancient 13:9 without allowing the game to spiral into chaos.
Nuke — 16:13. 3DMAX strike back
Nuke proved to be the most competitive map of the series. The game turned into a back-and-forth affair, with multiple clutch rounds and late-round adjustments on both sides. 3DMAX punished small mistakes, converted key advantages, and edged out a narrow 16:13 win — just enough to force a decider and briefly shift the momentum.
Dust2 — 13:6. Inner Circle shut it down
Any hopes of an upset were short-lived. On Dust2, Inner Circle were clinical from the start. Fast mid control, confident duels, and constant economic pressure left 3DMAX chasing the game. The map quickly tilted in Inner Circle’s favor, and a 13:6 scoreline underlined the gap when execution and confidence aligned.
Player of the match — Arseniy “cptkurtka023” Derevinskiy
Inner Circle’s standout across all three maps delivered a composed and efficient performance:
- 1.21 rating
- 78.8 ADR
- 71.4% KAST
- +1.85% swing
Derevinskiy’s consistency in opening duels and late-round impact provided the backbone for Inner Circle’s map control, particularly on Ancient and Dust2.
Teamplay breakdown — composure over chaos
Inner Circle secured the win through structure and balance. Even after dropping Nuke, the team remained disciplined and immediately reasserted control on the decider. 3DMAX showed resilience and flashes of quality, but across three maps they lacked the consistency and late-round sharpness required to push the series further.
VRS impact
- Inner Circle: +29 points — a meaningful boost that reinforces their upward momentum
- 3DMAX: –25 points — a setback after a competitive but unsuccessful run
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Tournament implications
Inner Circle advance in the bracket with confidence intact, proving they can navigate resistance without losing structure. For 3DMAX, the exit is another reminder that the margins at this level are thin — and that turning competitiveness into victories remains the next step. The favorite held firm when it mattered most.
