South American esports squad 9z secured the final playoff berth at the $1 million XSE Pro League Guangzhou 2026 on July 5, 2026.
They defeated regional rival MIBR 2-0 in the decisive Swiss Stage match.
The victory in Guangzhou, China, allowed 9z to finish the Swiss Stage with a 3-2 record.
They advanced to the single-elimination playoffs scheduled for July 9 through July 12.
9z joins prominent teams like FaZe and NIP in the playoffs. The tournament is organized by Xinsai Esports.
Match Highlights and Individual Performances
Matias "HUASOPEEK" Ibáñez Hernandez spearheaded 9z's victory with a 1.27 rating across the series.
The matches included a 13-10 win on Nuke and a 16-13 overtime comeback victory on Mirage.
The defeat concluded MIBR's campaign with a 2-3 record.
Despite this, Felipe "insani" Yuji finished as the highest-rated player on the server with a 1.41 rating.
Following the elimination, the Brazilian team expressed gratitude to its fans online.
They stated, "Our journey in the XSE Pro League has come to an end… We have adjustments to make and will come back stronger for the next challenges."
The tournament results impacted the Valve Regional Standings.
9z gained 18 points to strengthen their hold on 12th place, while MIBR lost 11 points but maintained their 15th-place position.
The $1 million event notably features zero cryptocurrency involvement.
This reflects a broader trend of shrinking web3 and blockchain sponsorships across major competitive gaming tournaments in mid-2026.
