Inner Circle defeat 3DMAX and advance to the next stage of BLAST Bounty Winter 2026

The Ukrainian team Inner Circle secured an important victory over the French side 3DMAX in the match of BLAST Bounty Winter 2026: Closed Qualifier, winning the series 2–1. The teams traded confident wins on their own map picks, while the outcome of the series was decided on Dust2, where Inner Circle fully controlled the game and booked their place in the next stage of the tournament.

Map veto

1. Inner Circle removed Inferno
2. 3DMAX removed Mirage
3. Inner Circle picked Ancient
4. 3DMAX picked Nuke
5. Inner Circle removed Anubis
6. 3DMAX removed Overpass
7. Dust2 was left over

Ancient (13:9 Inner Circle)

Inner Circle had no major issues securing their own map pick. They started on the T side, and although 3DMAX put up resistance in the opening rounds, the Ukrainian team built an 8:4 lead. The situation changed once 3DMAX moved to the attacking side and managed to equalize the score at 8:8, gaining momentum and a chance for a comeback. However, Inner Circle kept the game under control and closed out Ancient with a 13:9 victory.

Nuke (13:16 3DMAX)

The French team edged out a hard-fought win on their own pick. Starting on the T side, 3DMAX gained an early advantage and went up 4:0. Overall, the first half was very even and ended 6:6. After the side switch, the battle continued with both teams trading rounds. Inner Circle managed to push the game into overtime, but ultimately fell 13:16, conceding the map to the French squad.

Dust2 (13:6 Inner Circle)

The deciding Dust2 ended with little resistance from 3DMAX. Inner Circle played calmly and methodically, which allowed them to dictate the pace of the game. The final score was 13:6 on Dust2, securing a 2–1 series win.

Match MVP

Based on the results of all three maps, cptkurtka023 was named the MVP of the match. He demonstrated consistent aim and made the right decisions in crucial rounds. His statistics: Swing +1.85% and a 1.21 rating.

Inner Circle advance to the next stage of the tournament and earn an additional $20,000, while 3DMAX conclude their run at the event. The BLAST Bounty Winter 2026: Closed Qualifier takes place from January 13 to 18, with 32 teams competing for 8 spots at the LAN finals in Malta.