- leef
Predictions
21:47, 06.04.2025
In the group stage of PGL Bucharest 2025, we're anticipating an exciting clash between 3DMAX and Astralis—teams that are still striving for consistency at the Tier-1 level. Both teams started the tournament with surprises: 3DMAX stunned with a victory over The MongolZ, while Astralis defeated FaZe. This match could be pivotal in determining group standings and setting the tone for the rest of the championship.
Current Team Form
3DMAX continues to seek stability at the top level. The team showed fighting spirit in the ESL Pro League, defeating Falcons and Eternal Fire but losing to favorites like The MongolZ, Vitality, and Liquid. At major tournaments such as PGL Cluj-Napoca and IEM Katowice, they haven't ranked higher than 9th–11th, highlighting issues in matches against Tier-1 opponents. Nonetheless, their start in Bucharest was promising—a win over The MongolZ was unexpected and boosted their confidence.
| Date | Team | Score | Opponent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 06 | 3DMAX | 2 - 1 | The MongolZ |
| Mar 11 | 3DMAX | 1 - 2 | Liquid |
| Mar 10 | 3DMAX | 0 - 2 | The MongolZ |
| Mar 09 | 3DMAX | 2 - 1 | Falcons |
| Mar 08 | 3DMAX | 0 - 2 | Vitality |
Astralis is also experiencing a rough patch. Their recent performances at S-tier tournaments yield an average rating of only 5.7, and at BLAST Open Spring 2025, the team lost both matches and exited the tournament without a single map win. However, the victory in the first round of PGL Bucharest 2025 over FaZe showed that the team can rally and challenge even the favorites.
| Date | Team | Score | Opponent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 06 | Astralis | 2 - 1 | FaZe |
| Mar 21 | Astralis | 0 - 2 | FaZe |
| Mar 19 | Astralis | 0 - 2 | Vitality |
| Feb 23 | Astralis | 2 - 1 | FaZe |
| Feb 22 | Astralis | 1 - 2 | MOUZ |
Map Pool
3DMAX traditionally bans Mirage—this has been their consistent choice in the last 35 matches. They might also avoid Ancient or Anubis, where their results are lacking. Most likely, the team will choose Train, where they boast an impressive 80% win rate, or Inferno (70%), depending on the opponent's first pick.
Astralis will likely ban the same Mirage, as this map remains the weakest in their pool. They are highly likely to choose Inferno, where they have a stable win rate of 63%. It's possible they might try Train, where they also show strong performance (67%), especially if they feel confident after their victory over FaZe.
| Map | 3DMAX WR | M | B | Last 5 Maps (3DMAX) | Astralis WR | M | B | Last 5 Maps (Astralis) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anubis | 56% | 18 | 3 | L, W, W, L, W | 0% | 0 | 31 | FB, FB, FB, FB, FB |
| Mirage | 0% | 0 | 35 | FB, FB, FB, FB, FB | 31% | 16 | 10 | L, W, L, W, L |
| Dust II | 60% | 15 | 4 | W, L, L, W, L | 33% | 9 | 10 | L, L, W, L, W |
| Train | 80% | 5 | 8 | W, W, W, L, W | 60% | 5 | 6 | L, W, L, W, W |
| Ancient | 38% | 24 | 4 | L, L, W, L, L | 56% | 16 | 5 | W, W, W, L, W |
| Nuke | 43% | 14 | 13 | W, L, L, W, L | 59% | 17 | 1 | W, L, W, W, L |
| Inferno | 71% | 21 | 2 | W, W, W, L, L | 62% | 21 | 1 | W, L, W, L, W |
Match Prediction
Both teams are inconsistent yet capable of surprises. 3DMAX has an advantage in the pick—Train seems to be their stronghold, but the experience and structure of Astralis, as seen in their match against FaZe, could be decisive. If Astralis continues to gain momentum, they could dominate the tactical battle and close the match in two maps or in the decider.
Prediction: Astralis wins 2-1
PGL Bucharest 2025 takes place from April 6 to 13. The entire tournament is held in Bucharest, Romania, at the PGL Studio. Participants are competing for a prize pool of $625,000. You can follow the results and progress of the tournament via this link.
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