9z booked their place in the semifinals of XSE Pro League Guangzhou 2026 after defeating TYLOO 2-1 in the quarterfinals. The South American squad recovered from a loss on Mirage by winning Nuke and Inferno, continuing their impressive run in Guangzhou and ending TYLOO’s tournament campaign.
Road through the tournament
9z continued one of the strongest runs of the tournament. The South American team opened the Swiss Stage with a loss to EYEBALLERS but bounced back by defeating SINNERS, 3DMAX, and MIBR to qualify for the playoffs with a 3-2 record. In the quarterfinals, they overcame another tough opponent in TYLOO, moving one step closer to the title.
TYLOO also impressed throughout the event despite the elimination. The Chinese squad started with a victory over FaZe next beating PARIVISION and EYEBALLERS to secure a playoff berth with a 3-0 Swiss record. However, their campaign came to an end in the quarterfinals after a hard-fought 1-2 defeat 9z roster that had also handed them a loss earlier in the previous tournament.
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9z overcome TYLOO to advance to the semifinals
The quarterfinal series featured momentum swings, with both teams claiming their own map picks before the decider. 9z struck first on Nuke with a convincing 13-9 victory, but TYLOO answered on Mirage, taking the map 13-7 to level the series. On Inferno, however, the South American side regained control and comfortably closed out the match 13-5 to secure a semifinal berth.
Matias “HUASOPEEK” Ibáñez Hernández delivered another strong performance, finishing the series with a 1.21 rating. Franco “dgt” Garcia also played a key role with 45 kills and a 1.08 rating, while Luciano “luchov” Herrera added important impact throughout the series.
Nuke opener sets the tone before Inferno domination
9z looked composed on Nuke, capitalizing on strong defensive rounds to claim the opener 13-9. TYLOO responded well on Mirage, where their aggressive T side helped them secure a 13-7 victory and force a deciding map. The decider on Inferno was one-sided. 9z raced to an early lead and never allowed TYLOO back into the game, closing the map 13-5 to complete the 2-1 series victory.
Best player of the match
Matias “HUASOPEEK” Ibáñez Hernández earned Player of the Match honors after another consistent display. The Chilean rifler finished with 40 kills, a 75.0% KAST, and a 1.21 rating, delivering impact on all three maps and helping 9z control the decisive moments of the series.
VRS impact
The victory also strengthened 9z’s position in the Valve Regional Standings. The South American team gained 14 VRS points and improved from 12th to 11th place, while TYLOO lost 8 points, dropping from 18th to 19th.
Both teams acknowledged the result shortly after the match. TYLOO published a simple post confirming the 1-2 defeat to 9z and the final map scores, bringing an end to their XSE Pro League Guangzhou 2026 campaign.
On the winning side, Matias “HUASOPEEK” Ibáñez Hernández celebrated the victory on social media, writing:
2×1 vs TYLOO and we’re in the semis of the XSE Pro League 🇨🇳🇨🇳, back in two days, keep grinding, trophy buff.
The post reflected the confidence within the 9z camp as the South American squad advanced to the semifinals and moved two wins away from the championship.
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What’s next?
With the victory, 9z advance to the semifinals of XSE Pro League Guangzhou 2026, where they will continue their pursuit of the championship. TYLOO exit the tournament in the quarterfinals after a respectable campaign that demonstrated the team’s continued progress against international competition.