9z’s Max praises luchov after Astana run to Barys Arena playoffs

9z Esports clinched a playoffs berth at the Barys Arena in Astana after defeating PARIVISION, Falcons and MOUZ during the event’s group stage. The South American side finished its pool 2-0 to advance to the arena stage.

Captain Maximiliano “max” Gonzalez highlighted Luciano “luchov” Herrera’s performance across the matches, noting that luchov finished the group round with a 1.35 rating. The squad marked luchov’s birthday on the day they secured the playoffs with a postgame celebration.

Max said, “luchov is an amazing player. I wanted him a few years ago, but at that moment we couldn’t buy him. But last year he came, and he’s doing an amazing job. I’m very happy with his performance and how he is as a person.” He added that the team will take a short break to review film and tactics before preparing for the arena matches and the upcoming Major.

On the team’s level, max said he believes 9z is “close to tier-one, but not yet,” and that the tournament increased the squad’s confidence. He said the plan is to focus first on the playoffs in Astana, then shift attention to the Major.

Max described his leadership as adaptive to team morale: he aims to be positive when results are poor and firmer when the team is winning. He credited coach BIT and the team’s analyst for tactical support and emphasized that every player has the right to speak during preparation.

He offered examples of locker-room moments, mentioning player HUASO’s habit of wearing Crocs during matches and saying the Kazakhstan fans greeted the team at the hotel and venue. Max also noted that teammate BanKs told the roster they have a chance to win the event.

9z is a South American organization that has won several domestic titles this year. The team used the Astana event to measure its level against international opponents; its next tests are the arena stage at Barys Arena and the upcoming Major.