ESL Pro League Season 21 Play-in continues, and one of the upcoming matches will be the clash between 3DMAX and Mindfreak. Both teams started the tournament with losses and will be fighting for their first win. 3DMAX have extensive experience playing at the top level, while Mindfreak represent the Oceania region and are trying to make a name for themselves. In this article, we will analyze the current state of the teams, the possible map pool, and provide a prediction for the match outcome.
Current Team Form
3DMAX
The average rating of 3DMAX at S-tier events over the past month is 6.0. Over the past month, 3DMAX have shown mixed results. They successfully passed the Play-in stage at IEM Katowice 2025 but were eliminated in the lower bracket semifinals of the main stage. At the IEM Dallas European Qualifier, the team secured two victories and qualified for the tournament. However, at PGL Cluj-Napoca, 3DMAX suffered a defeat with a score of 2-3. In the current ESL Pro League Season 21, their score is 0-1.
In the last five matches, 3DMAX have secured only one victory — against MIBR, with losses against MOUZ, Eternal Fire, SAW, and TYLOO.
| Date | Team | Score | Opponent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 01 | 3DMAX | 0 - 2 | TYLOO |
| Feb 18 | 3DMAX | 0 - 2 | SAW |
| Feb 17 | 3DMAX | 1 - 2 | Eternal Fire |
| Feb 16 | 3DMAX | 2 - 0 | MIBR |
| Feb 15 | 3DMAX | 0 - 2 | MOUZ |
Mindfreak
The average rating of Mindfreak at S-tier events over the past month is 5.4 (including one match from this tournament), and if considering C-B rated tournaments, it is 6.2. The team participated in the BLAST Rising Asia Spring Closed Qualifier but was eliminated after two losses. In the EPL World Series: Oceania Season 1, Mindfreak secured third place. Additionally, they are competing in the ESL Challenger League Oceania, where their current score is 3-5. In the ESL Pro League Season 21, their score is also 0-1.
In the last five matches, Mindfreak have secured one victory (against Housebets), with losses against The Art of War (twice), Housebets, and Eternal Fire.
| Date | Team | Score | Opponent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 01 | Mindfreak | 0 - 2 | Eternal Fire |
| Feb 19 | Mindfreak | 0 - 1 | The Art of War |
| Feb 19 | Mindfreak | 0 - 1 | The Art of War |
| Feb 18 | Mindfreak | 0 - 1 | Housebets |
| Feb 18 | Mindfreak | 1 - 0 | Housebets |
Map Pool
3DMAX most frequently ban the map Mirage (41 times), while Mindfreak prioritize banning Inferno (16 times). In map selection, 3DMAX focus on the weaknesses of their opponents, preferring Ancient (29 times, win rate 38%), Inferno (25 times, win rate 76%), or Anubis (23 times, win rate 57%). Mindfreak, in turn, also choose the map based on the weaknesses of their opponents, most frequently selecting Nuke (15 times, win rate 47%), Mirage (7 times, win rate 57%), or Inferno (6 times, win rate 67%). Considering the priority bans and team preferences, the deciding map is likely to be Anubis or Nuke.
| Map | 3DMAX Winrate | M | B | Last 5 Matches (3DMAX) | Mindfreak Winrate | M | B | Last 5 Matches (Mindfreak) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ancient | 38% | 29 | 6 | L, W, L, W, L | 100% | 2 | 7 | W, W |
| Mirage | 0% | 0 | 41 | FB, FB, FB, FB, FB | 57% | 7 | 3 | L, L, W, L, W |
| Dust II | 70% | 20 | 8 | L, W, W, W, L | 25% | 4 | 3 | L, W, L, L |
| Nuke | 35% | 20 | 12 | W, L, L, L, L | 47% | 15 | 2 | W, L, W, W, L |
| Inferno | 76% | 25 | 2 | W, L, W, W, L | 67% | 6 | 16 | FB, FB, FB, FB, FB |
| Anubis | 57% | 23 | 3 | L, L, W, L, L | 50% | 6 | 9 | W, W, L, L, L |
| Train | 100% | 1 | 8 | W | 100% | 1 | 2 | W |
Match Prediction
Comparing the teams' stats, 3DMAX appear to be the favorites. They demonstrate more stable play at high-level tournaments and have more experience facing strong opponents. Their win rate on Inferno (76%) and Anubis (57%) gives them an advantage in the map pool. Mindfreak, although they have decent stats on Inferno (67%) and Mirage (57%), lack stability at the S-tier team level.
Prediction: 3DMAX to win 2:0
ESL Pro League Season 21 takes place from March 1 to 16 in Stockholm, Sweden. 24 teams will compete for a prize pool of $400,000. Follow the schedule, match results, and tournament progress via the link here.
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