When Alexandre "bodyy" Pianaro joined 3DMAX, many fans were surprised. His career hadn't been going well lately, especially during his time at fnatic, where he struggled both as a leader and as a player. Replacing Thomas "Djoko" Pavoni, who was known for his strong mechanical skill and selfless playstyle, seemed risky. Djoko might not have impressive stats, but he was known for stepping up in crucial moments. However, the addition of bodyy brought some clear advantages, particularly his vast experience at the highest levels, including more than three years with G2, where he won significant trophies.

Why 3DMAX chose bodyy

When bodyy joined 3DMAX, it seemed strange because he was not taking the captain's role—that remained with Bryan "Maka" Canda. However, his vast experience playing for top-tier teams, especially G2, became his main strength. Although not officially the captain, bodyy could provide valuable tactical insight as a secondary caller due to his aggressive playstyle. He actively participates in early-round fights, with a 26% involvement rate in opening duels. His ability to consistently win these critical fights helps 3DMAX gain early advantages and control rounds more effectively than before.

Impressive debut

bodyy immediately justified the team's confidence. His debut came at IEM Dallas 2025: European Qualifier, and he quickly proved his value, finishing as the team’s best player with a 6.6 rating. This strong performance helped 3DMAX secure an important victory over HEROIC, guaranteeing them a LAN spot. 

Solid LAN performances

At PGL Cluj-Napoca 2025, 3DMAX showed potential but narrowly missed playoffs, losing a crucial match against SAW. Still, bodyy performed adequately with a rating of 5.8, which wasn't outstanding, but not terrible either. The team did well, beating strong opponents like Virtus.pro and MIBR, though losing critical matches against SAW, Eternal Fire, and MOUZ. While 3DMAX failed to advance further, bodyy’s performance demonstrated consistency, bringing reliability the team desperately needed.

At ESL Pro League Season 21, 3DMAX finished 2-3 in the Swiss Stage, narrowly missing playoffs again. Yet, they defeated tough opponents like Falcons and Eternal Fire. bodyy maintained excellent form throughout this stage, finishing with an impressive 6.7 rating. Among players who missed the playoffs, only superstars like Fredrik "REZ" Sterner, Nikola "NiKo" Kovač, Felipe "insani" Yuji, and Kaike "KSCERATO" Cerato performed better individually. 

Bodyy’s playstyle

Compared to Djoko, bodyy is more effective in aggressive roles, successfully winning critical early battles. His confidence allows him to take fights early, providing a tactical advantage by gaining valuable information for the team. His intelligent and experienced decision-making makes the difference in crucial rounds, giving his teammates room to succeed. Though initially a surprising replacement, his performance clearly demonstrates that this was the right decision for 3DMAX.

Despite not advancing to playoffs at recent tournaments, 3DMAX has consistently placed near playoff qualification, including 9-12th place at IEM Katowice 2025 and close battles at ESL Pro League and PGL Cluj-Napoca 2025. This indicates the team's potential, and with bodyy’s ongoing excellent performance (38 maps played so far), they are positioned to qualify directly to the Major or at least secure a spot in the closed qualifier comfortably.

Future opportunities

Thanks to their strong Valve ranking position, 3DMAX has good chances of directly qualifying for the upcoming major, or at least securing a spot in the closed qualifier. They also have at least four more LAN tournaments scheduled in 2025:

• PGL Bucharest 2025 ($1,250,000)
• YaLLa Compass Qatar 2025 ($600,000)
• IEM Melbourne 2025 ($1,000,000)
• IEM Dallas 2025 ($1,000,000)

These tournaments provide valuable opportunities for the team to further improve, especially with bodyy’s stable performance becoming central to their strategies.

Looking ahead

Despite initial doubts, bodyy has quickly established himself as the best player in the 3DMAX lineup. His impressive ratings and consistently high individual performances clearly demonstrate his importance to the team. With continued stability and better teamwork, 3DMAX has a promising future ahead, especially if other players step up to support bodyy’s consistent aggression.

Overall, replacing Djoko with bodyy was indeed the right move, despite initial skepticism. As 3DMAX moves forward, bodyy’s experience, skill, and tactical understanding will be crucial. If the team can capitalize on these strengths and avoid making small mistakes in crucial