The French dark horses 3DMAX has reached the semi-finals of the PGL Bucharest 2026, outlasting MIBR with a reverse sweep in a 3-map thriller. An unconvincing display on the first, followed by a show of resilience in the second, and a confident close in the final map, saw 3DMAX make it to the Semi-Finals.
VETO
- 3DMAX removed Mirage
- MIBR removed Dust2
- 3DMAX picked Inferno
- MIBR picked Ancient
- MIBR removed Overpass
- 3DMAX removed Anubis
- Nuke was left over
Map 1: Inferno; Pick: 3DMAX; Winner: MIBR
Winning the pistol set the Brazilian side up for a strong start, but 3DMAX managed to convert the first gun round, giving the French side a lead before MIBR got back on the board. Winning all the remaining rounds in the half, MIBR managed to end their opponent’s pick with a 9-3 lead. Both teams traded rounds early on to kick off the second half, with 3DMAX winning a streak of rounds, cutting the map close before MIBR pushed it over the line with a 13-9 scoreline.
Map 2: Ancient; Pick: MIBR; Winner: 3DMAX
Starting on offense of their own pick, MIBR managed to keep 3DMAX at bay as they edged out the first half with a narrow lead. Replicating the scoreline, 3DMAX managed to get 7 rounds to push the game to OT, where they pulled ahead with a flawless performance on their offense and went on to secure that one round in the second half to edge out the map with a 16-13 scoreline. Lucky, with 1.37 IR, managed to stand out as the most impactful player who took 3DMAX to the final map of the series.
Map 3: Nuke; Pick: Decider; Winner: 3DMAX
Starting with a pistol win on the offense, 3DMAX secured an early lead before MIBR built into the game later in the half to take the lead before switching sides with a 7-5 scoreline. Starting on their defense, 3DMAX managed to recover and went on to put up a streak of rounds to take the lead away. Having managed only 2 rounds on their offense, the Brazilians paved the way for 3DMAX to cruise past them with a 13-9 scoreline. AWPer Maka stood out as the best player for 3DMAX, who not only stood tall in the defense but also proved to be instrumental in the offense to keep the game competitive.
As they secure a stunning victory, waiting for them in the next round of play is Astralis, who have been the best team in this event so far. If they are to take down the Danish powerhouse, things are looking hopeful, and one might argue that they might secure their first trophy of the year.
