Captain Dan 'apEX' Madesclaire from Vitality showcased his formidable skills during a heated showdown against 3DMAX at IEM Katowice 2025. The intensity of the match was fueled by apEX's spirited French taunts directed at his opponents. ESL captured the moment in a video, complete with translations.
The exchange of banter began early in the game, escalating as both teams engaged in verbal sparring during the initial rounds on Inferno. Tensions peaked when Filip 'Graviti' Brankovic taunted apEX, labeling him a 'noob.' The verbal jousting climaxed during overtime, with apEX delivering a scathing remark by referring to the opponents as a 'band of sluts' after a remarkable 3-kill defense on the B-site. He further asserted his dominance by claiming to have anticipated 3DMAX's moves, humorously mentioning that 'even his mom' could have rotated to B in time.
The best-of-three series concluded with a decisive 2:0 victory in favor of Vitality. Both maps were closely contested, showcasing Vitality's resilience. Despite facing challenges during the attack rounds on Nuke, apEX and his team staged an impressive comeback during the defensive phase.
In the upcoming match, apEX is set to clash with FaZe Clan, scheduled to commence at 18:30 CET on February 2. Meanwhile, 3DMAX is currently competing against BIG.
The fans were treated to an exhilarating display of passion and skill through apEX's vocal dominance. Analyst Jacob 'Pimp' Winneche lauded the encounter as 'golden.' However, ESL's decision to remove the video from social media shortly after its release hints at a possible adherence to stringent guidelines, as seen in past instances such as with Danil 'donk' Kryshkovets in the previous year's Katowice event.
