In a stunning turn of events at Esports World Cup, magic have knocked out 9z in a grueling three-map battle, taking victories on Ancient and Inferno while dropping Dust2 in between.
The elimination comes as a crushing blow for 9z, who entered the tournament riding high on recent success. The South American squad had reached the top eight at IEM Cologne Major and claimed victory at XSE Pro League just weeks ago. They were climbing toward a top-five position in the VRS rankings, and will be hoping this setback doesn't derail their momentum heading into an upcoming stretch of premier tournaments.
Meanwhile, magic's reputation continues to grow following their breakout top-four performance at PGL Astana. They've since secured second place at Stake Ranked, and now add another high-level playoff appearance to their credentials.
The opening map Ancient delivered non-stop action, with neither side able to establish clear dominance. Andrey "AW" Anisimov and Nikita "tenzy" Kochenyuk led the charge for magic, while 9z relied on balanced contributions across the roster. Magic appeared to seize control at 12-8, but 9z stormed back with four consecutive rounds to force overtime. Despite an ace from Ignacio "meyern" Meyer and crucial clutches keeping 9z competitive, magic eventually closed out the map.
Dust2 belonged to 9z, who overcame strong defensive stands from Svyatoslav "MaSvAl" Masko and tenzy to build a 7-5 halftime advantage. A critical force-buy victory on their CT side propelled them to a 12-6 lead. Though magic showed flashes of a potential comeback, meyern delivered a decisive multi-kill to extinguish any hopes and force a deciding map.
The series finale on Inferno showcased momentum swings driven by powerful CT performances from both teams. Magic exploded to a commanding first-half lead behind stellar play from AW and tenzy, leaving 9z struggling to find their footing. 9z mounted a fierce comeback on their defensive half, utilizing precise crossfire setups to equalize at 9-9. However, magic found another gear when it mattered most, displaying individual brilliance and composure in chaotic situations to secure a 13-11 victory and complete the upset.
