9z beat TYLOO in Guangzhou to reach the XSE Pro League semifinals, denying the Chinese side a run in front of its own crowd and locking in a top-four finish.
The best-of-three opened with a split. 9z took Nuke 13-9, TYLOO answered on Mirage 13-7, and the decider on Inferno never really settled into TYLOO’s rhythm. 9z grabbed eight T-side rounds before the switch and closed it out 13-5.
Franco “dgt” Garcia was the sharpest player on the server in the final map, finishing Inferno with a 1.91 rating, 112.6 ADR, and a +9.88% swing. Matias “HUASOPEEK” Ibañez Hernandez also did plenty of work for 9z, especially on Nuke, and ended the series with a 1.21 rating.
The result keeps 9z in form after their playoff run at the IEM Cologne Major, and their next opponent will come from Alliance vs. Nemesis. If Alliance advances, the semifinal would double as a rematch, since the Swedes already beat 9z 2-0 in the Swiss stage.
9z are in a good spot now, and the semifinal should tell us whether this run keeps going or stops here. Share your thoughts in the comments, and follow us on X, Bluesky, YouTube, Instagram.
