9z beat Alliance to secure first notable event grand final appearance

A match against the winner of FaZe and PARIVISION separates 9z from the first MVP-event victory in the organization's history.

9z are the first team to advance to the XSE Pro League Guangzhou 2026 grand final after a 2-1 victory over Alliance.

The South American side continues to build upon its impressive run at the IEM Cologne Major, where 9z secured its first Major playoffs appearance with a run to the quarter-final, now clinching another milestone in the form of their first grand final at an MVP-level event.

They headed into the semi-final as clear favorites but faced an Alliance side that had already taken them down earlier in the tournament's group stage.

In the rematch, their switch from Dust2 to a Nuke pick paid off with Ignacio "⁠meyern⁠" Meyer and Luciano "⁠luchov⁠" Herrera landing the final blow with crucial multi-kills late after Alliance recovered from a slow start to the first half.

The Swedes replied on Inferno despite a red-hot meyern, who helped 9z come back from a 6-12 deficit to take the match to double overtime, but could not match up to the South American team on the deciding Ancient.

In the grand final, 9z will go up against the winner of the second semi-final between FaZe and PARIVISION, on Sunday at 10:00 .