PGL Bucharest is bringing together a motley crew of top-10 Counter-Strike teams and some fun regional standouts; with The MongolZ vs 3DMAX standing as one of the most competitive matchups.
The first round of a Counter-Strike tournament can get weird sometimes. 16 teams are brought together, seeded, and paired off with whoever is on the opposite end of the seeding. While a match between the best team in CS2 and the 16th-best team can still be exciting and competitive, not all teams are willing to participate in every event.
There are plenty of notable teams that passed on PGL Bucharest, which has made for some big mismatches. But the closest match next to FaZe Clan vs Astralis, according to betting sites, is The MongolZ vs 3DMAX.
LOSER IS OUT! Liquid vs TheMongolz – Official Highlights – BLAST Premier Open Lisbon 2025
The MongolZ vs 3DMAX is a first-round group stage match at PGL Bucharest. The match is a best-of-three showdown, but neither team will be eliminated. Teams need to win three group stage matches to advance to the playoffs, and are eliminated if they lose three.
In 2024, The MongolZ was largely defined by its ability to constantly deliver solid placements in tournaments. That has continued in 2025 with top-four placements in IEM Katowice and ESL Pro League Season 21, and top-eight finishes in PGL Cluj-Napoca and BLAST Open Spring.
The MongolZ has had a largely steady roster since its reformation in 2023, and the squad’s usual lineup will be competing in PGL Bucharest:
The MongolZ has a winrate above 60% on almost every map in the active duty rotation over the last six months. The exception is Nuke, where it has a comparatively humble 3-4 record. The team most frequently plays on Anubis and Mirage.
3DMAX is consistently “around” the top of the Counter-Strike esports scene, but hasn’t really made much of an impression. In recent months, the team has played in ESL Pro League, PGL Cluj-Napoca, IEM Katowice, and the Shanghai Major. In each event, it got some wins but never actually advanced deeply.
The team added Alexandre “bodyy” Pianaro to its roster in February, so look for these players to represent 3DMAX in PGL Bucharest:
Inferno is 3DMAX’s best map of 2025 thus far, with the team going 9-4 on the map. 3DMAX has also been actively looking to make Train one of its go-to maps, playing five games there and winning four of them. That’s notable as The MongolZ hasn’t actually played on Train yet.
The MongolZ and 3DMAX have played five matches against each other over since July 2024. 3DMAX won the first two, but The MongolZ have won the three most recent ones. They last came together in ESL Pro League Season 21, with The MongolZ taking a quick 2-0 win.
The MongolZ is a big favorite to beat 3DMAX, with the betting odds standing at 1.31 against 3.39. This isn’t surprising as The MongolZ has posted markedly better results and taken bigger wins, though 3DMAX has pulled off upsets against similarly ranked teams.
WINNER MOVES ON! 3DMAX vs M80 – HIGHLIGHTS – ESL Pro League Season 21 | CS2
The MongolZ should be able to take a convincing win over 3DMAX in PGL Bucharest. 3DMAX has been able to take upset wins in the past, beating the likes of Team Falcons, Eternal Fire, and G2 Esports. Still, The MongolZ has been too strong to doubt.
Think you know who will win? Place your bets here!
21+ and present in VA. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
