3DMAX Players and Coaches Speak Out Over Long-Running Salary Delays

3DMAX’s long-running salary problems are now being described firsthand by current and former members of its Counter-Strike 2 staff, adding direct testimony to the financial allegations surrounding the French organisation. As of 29 August 2026, former coach Pierre “YouKnow” Marco and current coach Damien “wasiNk” Dufour have both detailed payment delays, while captain Bryan “Maka” Canda says the wider situation became mentally exhausting for the roster.

Hey X, it’s been a long time. I wanted to take time to think and express myself with the latest news. It will be long and I appreciate everyone who will read me until the end.

It seems important to do it because I am the captain, I always represented this wonderful team since… pic.twitter.com/yfc7ddp9aM

— Bryan (@Makazin_) August 27, 2026

The statements follow Sébastien “KRL” Perez’s report that 3DMAX owes more than €1.5 million to players, staff and other parties. That total remains an unverified allegation and has not been publicly confirmed by 3DMAX, but the underlying issue of delayed payments is now supported by people who worked inside the team.

YouKnow Says Payments Never Caught Up

Former head coach Pierre “YouKnow” Marco gave one of the clearest explanations of how the payment problems worked during his time with 3DMAX. He said he did receive money, but each payment covered a month that was already overdue rather than bringing his salary up to date.

“The delay never got cleared up; it simply shifted.”

Je n'ai jamais pris la parole publiquement sur mon passage chez 3DMAX. Je le fais une seule fois, et sans polémique.

J'y suis resté un an et demi : d'abord assistant coach, puis head coach pendant huit mois, jusqu'à mon départ le 1er mars 2026.

Je ne donnerai pas de chiffres,… https://t.co/D7SKsO7xAR

— YouKnow (@YouKnowCSGO) August 21, 2026

YouKnow said the arrangement meant that, in effect, his eight months as head coach felt like eight months worked without being properly paid up to the current month. He also said leaving partway through the period would have meant risking what he was already owed, giving him little room to simply walk away from the situation.

That account turns the payment issue from a broad financial allegation into a specific mechanism: money was arriving, according to YouKnow, but never quickly enough to eliminate the existing arrears.

Read More: 3DMAX Debt Allegations Top €1.5M After CYRILmp4 Takeover Falls Through

Maka Describes a Different Kind of Competitive Pressure

Maka did not say whether he personally has unpaid salary. Instead, the 3DMAX captain used a lengthy statement on X to explain what competing through the organisation’s wider situation had done to the team.

He described the past several weeks and months as especially difficult, saying the pressure went beyond what normally comes with professional competition. Despite that, Maka said everyone remained committed to continuing the project and trying to perform.

“Pressure has always been a privilege in competition but this was a different type of pressure that not many can handle and battle through on a daily basis.”

Maka said the situation became mentally challenging and exhausting, with members of the project increasingly feeling consumed by it from last summer onwards. After nine years in Counter-Strike, he said his competitive motivation remains intact, but added that the group could achieve more in an environment that is better supported and “mentally safer” than the one it has experienced over roughly the past year and a half.

His comments stop short of announcing a departure from 3DMAX. Instead, Maka is publicly looking for support around the existing competitive project as it tries to continue playing.

The €1.5 Million Debt Figure Remains an Allegation

The distinction between the confirmed payment delays and 3DMAX’s reported total liabilities remains important. KRL reported that the organisation owes more than €1.5 million across players, staff and other parties after a proposed acquisition involving French YouTuber CYRILmp4 failed to materialise.

KRL said CYRILmp4 had spent months in negotiations and signed a preliminary agreement before ultimately withdrawing. A LaSource report further said players declined other opportunities while that negotiation process was ongoing.

Neither the public statements from YouKnow nor Maka establish the €1.5 million total. They instead strengthen a narrower part of the story by showing that payment delays and the pressure surrounding them were experienced directly inside the Counter-Strike project.

wasiNk Says Financial Stress Affected Matches

Current coach Damien “wasiNk” Dufour went further by directly connecting the financial problems to 3DMAX’s competitive performances. He said payment difficulties had existed since his first stint with the organisation in 2024 and described the consequences players carried into high-pressure matches.

“If you don’t perform, you’re not getting paid, and you won’t be able to pay off your debts.”

Lors de mon premier passage chez 3DMAX (mars 2024 – juillet 2025), les premiers retards de paiement sont apparus. Cela s’est mélangé avec une période de grind, mais il faut préciser qu’il s’agissait de retards qui étaient toujours rattrapés, jusqu’au début du dernier trimestre de…

— wasiNk (@WasinkFPS) August 21, 2026

wasiNk said that reality was in everyone’s head and argued that it helped explain some of the team’s breakdowns during important matches. His account does not make the financial situation the sole explanation for 3DMAX’s results, but it identifies an additional pressure players were carrying when tournament performance was tied in their minds to whether overdue income might be recovered.

Combined with YouKnow’s description of permanently lagging payments, wasiNk’s comments show why another bad result could carry consequences beyond tournament placement. For players already waiting on money, competitive setbacks also threatened their ability to catch up on personal financial obligations.

Maka Wants Singapore Major Qualification and Tier-One Events in 2027

Despite that pressure, Maka says Counter-Strike remains his priority. He has set out a goal of competing at the Singapore Major, reaching subsequent Majors and remaining on the tier-one circuit in 2027.

Maka said the roster currently sits around No. 40 in Valve’s Regional Standings and believes its points leave room for movement because of a lack of LAN wins. The team plans to play several LAN and online events beginning in September before the Singapore Major ranking cutoff.

That schedule is also why Maka has now opened the door to outside support. He invited anyone interested in the project to contact him directly and said the roster needs backing to compete at its upcoming LAN events.

“If you are interested or believe in this project feel free to reach me. We need your support to compete in the upcoming LAN events.”

Maka has left his direct messages open and says he intends to keep competing, with September’s tournaments now forming the next immediate test for a 3DMAX project trying to preserve its VRS position and reach the Singapore Major.