3DMAX vs 9z Team Prediction: the Lucky Ones Have to Use Their Chance

Prediction for the IEM Cologne 2024 match, which will take place on August 7th. Who will turn out to be stronger? Check the team conditions! Several betting options are available.

The story of 3DMAX is pretty unique in the CS2 professional scene. The French team has been playing for the second year without a salary at the tier-2 level. They've been climbing through the challenges of endless qualifications and living off the prize money they've won at tournaments. Maybe the state of "hunger" is an excellent motivator for 3DMAX. The team has risen to their best position in the HLTV rankings, and thanks to visa problems with BetBoom, they got a slot in the Play-In IEM Cologne 2024.

We saw 3DMAX at ESL Pro League Season 19. These guys came out on top in Group A in the playoffs, took 9-12th place, and gave G2 Esports a run for their money. The team got to train with some of the best squads, gained the necessary experience, and is now picking up new skills at the tier-2 level. Before their big break, 3DMAX made the CCT Season 2 European Series playoffs several times and made it to the finals in their fifth season. In July, they won the Skyesports Championship 2024, earning $120,000. The French team has reached a small peak, and now is the best time for them to achieve success and look for new sponsors.

Until June 2024, 9z was unknown outside of South America, at least among Counter-Strike fans. Right, the team made a name for themselves in a match against Virtus.pro, where they shared a $150,000 prize. But in the summer of 2024, 9z made a big splash in the CS2 industry, surprising the public several times. First, they reached the top 4 of IEM Dallas 2024, defeating MOUZ, Team Liquid, and Team Vitality. Later, the team also won the FiReLEAGUE 2024 Global Finals. They are currently ranked 12th on HLTV, and another strong showing at the tier-1 level could secure a spot in the top 10.

The issue with all South American teams is that they tend to be disadvantaged from the start. When MIBR or 9z are gaining momentum, they're not afraid of anyone. But if they take a step back or hit a rough patch, they lose their edge and revert to their usual level of play. The team played their last two matches two weeks ago at the CCT Season 2 Europe Series 6. The South Americans didn't have a chance to warm up and lost to Monte, but they barely beat RUBY. Before that, 9z had been on a break for over a month. So, the team from 12th place on HLTV looks pretty formidable in theory, but in practice, they don't play as well as they could.

Different things can affect teams differently, but motivation is always one of the most important factors for securing hard-fought victories. The Frenchmen from 3DMAX don't need to spell out what they're fighting for. Every win is an extra dollar in each player's piggy bank. On top of that, the team's performance is still in the air, while 3DMAX recently beat a top-10 HLTV team in the final of the tier-2 tournament. Bookmakers don't think a random substitution will succeed, but the French can send down 9z at the last minute.