by In the ESL Pro League Season 19 group stage, 3DMAX made it to the playoffs after securing victories against SAW and Fnatic.
The French team, led by Bryan “Maka” Canda and with Filip “Graviti” Brankovic as a stand-in, showed resilience, particularly in their 2-0 (13-5, 13-10) victory over Fnatic.
.@3DMAXGaming are the FIRST team to be confirmed for the #ESLProLeague Season 19 Playoffs!!
Congratulations ????@Makazin_ @LuckyCSGO_@Djoko_13@Ex3rcice@graviti_cs pic.twitter.com/zeNOcmZhuR
— ESL Counter-Strike (@ESLCS) April 24, 2024
Despite a competitive match against SAW that went into overtime on both maps, 3DMAX displayed dominance against Fnatic, winning on Anubis and Ancient.
Graviti’s performance was notable, especially in securing crucial rounds for 3DMAX.
Although the Counter-Strike played on Ancient was scrappy, 3DMAX managed to maintain their lead, with Graviti’s contributions proving pivotal.
Notably, a clutch play by Thomas “Djoko” Pavoni sealed the victory for 3DMAX, thwarting any chances of a Fnatic comeback.
Meanwhile, Astralis continued their strong run by defeating FaZe 2-0 (13-11, 13-9) in the upper bracket semi-final of Group A.
Since the addition of Alexander “br0” Bro and the shift of in-game leadership to Nicolai “device” Reedtz, Astralis has been performing well.
They secured wins on Ancient and Nuke against FaZe, advancing to the playoffs and setting up a match against 3DMAX for a spot in the quarter-finals.
The second team to be guaranteed a spot in the #ESLProLeague Season 19 Playoffs is @AstralisCS! ?? pic.twitter.com/9fD230SpzE
— ESL Counter-Strike (@ESLCS) April 24, 2024
Victor ‘Staehr’ Staehr and br0 from Astralis expressed satisfaction with their victory over FaZe, acknowledging the tough competition they faced.
Br0 highlighted the team’s adaptability and credited the coaching staff and device for their preparation and calling.
He also discussed his integration into the team and expressed confidence in his improvement over time.
The match on Ancient showcased Astralis’ dominance in the first half, followed by a strong comeback from FaZe in the second half.
However, Astralis managed to secure the win with key plays, including a clutch by Staehr.
On Nuke, Astralis recovered from a shaky start to secure the victory, with stavn’s pivotal plays contributing to their success.
Overall, both 3DMAX and Astralis showed strong performances in the group stage, setting the stage for exciting matchups in the playoffs of ESL Pro League Season 19.
