3DMAX and paiN Gaming eradicated from PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026

3DMAX and paiN Gaming have turn out to be the primary two groups eradicated from PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026 after failing to attain three wins in the course of the Group Stage.

The all-French roster did not win a single map throughout three best-of-threes, whereas paiN Gaming misplaced to The MongolZ, Aurora Gaming, and G2 Esports.

Having scored a top-12 end at IEM Krakow 2026, 3DMAX hoped to construct on the consequence by securing a spot within the playoffs. The group’s Cluj-Napoca marketing campaign kicked off with a 2-0 defeat to Group Falcons earlier than one other 2-0 loss to Astralis put the group on the verge of elimination within the opening two days of the Tier 1 event. 

Victory towards HEROIC was a must-win sequence if 3DMAX had any likelihood of creating it into the playoffs. The opposition started Nuke with a medical attacking show, inserting the group instantly on the again foot. HEROIC’s defence additionally held agency within the second half to safe a cushty 13-5 win. 

Inferno was a a lot nearer contest, with 3DMAX ending the primary half with a four-round benefit. The lead, nevertheless, wasn’t sufficient to forestall HEROIC from finishing a powerful comeback on its attacking half, scoring 9 rounds to overturn the deficit and take a 13-10 win and wrap up the sequence with a 2-0 sweep.

After signing Vinicius ‘vsm’ Moreira and Guilherme ‘piriajr’ Barbosa in early January, paiN Gaming stays certainly one of South America’s strongest groups regardless of starting the yr with a top-16 at BLAST Bounty Season 1 and a top-20 in Krakow. 

The group’s Cluj-Napoca marketing campaign opened with a 2-1 defeat to The MongolZ, the place paiN Gaming solely managed to win three rounds throughout two maps. One other 2-1 defeat to Aurora Gaming was an enchancment, however an absence of cohesion on Anubis and Mud II resulted within the Brazilians closing in on one other early exit. 

paiN Gaming lastly confirmed indicators of life in its third-round match towards G2 Esports. Regardless of indicators of potential on assault and defence, its opponent despatched the group packing with a 2-0 defeat.

In direction of the highest of the Group Stage desk, the pairing of Group Vitality and Group Falcons grew to become the primary groups to safe a spot within the playoffs after ending the Group Stage with three victories. 

Whereas G2 Esports and The MongolZ managed to take a map off the dominant Group Vitality roster, the world’s greatest CS2 group demonstrated its class to earn its place in one other Tier 1 playoffs.

After sweeping apart 3DMAX in its opening match, Group Falcons managed to beat FaZe Clan earlier than finishing a reverse sweep towards FURIA to earn its first playoff look of 2026.

Day three of PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026 is underway with the 12 remaining groups persevering with to compete for 3 extra locations within the playoffs. Along with extra groups advancing to the subsequent stage, one other three groups will head residence.

Followers can tune into the motion throughout PGL’s Twitch and YouTube channels.