9z clinches grand final spot at XSE Pro League Guangzhou 2026

9z has reached the grand final of the XSE Pro League Guangzhou 2026, marking a significant achievement for the organization. The South American team secured their spot by defeating Alliance 2-1 in the semifinals, where they now await the winner of the match between FaZe and PARIVISION.

This victory represents another milestone for 9z, who previously made headlines by reaching the quarter-finals at the IEM Cologne Major, their first mainstream Major playoff appearance. Facing off against Alliance, whom they had previously lost to in the group stage, 9z entered the semifinal as favorites.

The rematch featured a notable strategy adjustment from 9z. Transitioning from Dust2 to Nuke proved beneficial as Ignacio "meyern" Meyer and Luciano "luchov" Herrera delivered essential multi-kills in the closing moments after Alliance managed to rebound from a slow start.

Alliance showcased resilience on Inferno, effectively countering 9z even as meyern shone throughout the round. Despite falling behind 6-12, 9z managed to take the match to double overtime. However, they proved too strong for Alliance on the final map, Ancient.

As 9z prepares for the grand final, they will face whoever prevails from the ongoing semifinal between FaZe and PARIVISION. The final is scheduled to take place on Sunday at 10:00.