9z’s Meyern: I Nearly Quit Before Historic IEM Run

Ignacio ‘meyern’ Meyer said he came close to leaving professional Counter-Strike before 9z advanced to the quarter-finals at the IEM Cologne Major, becoming the first Latin American team to reach the event’s top eight.

The run at IEM Cologne included a win over Vitality, a near-win against Spirit, a loss to Aurora, and a decisive victory over The MongolZ that secured the playoff berth. The result followed two prior attempts in which 9z did not reach the Major playoffs.

Meyer, 9z’s primary AWPer, described a low point in his career and credited staying with the team for his turnaround. He recalled feeling close to quitting and said belief in himself and support from teammates kept him in the game. Alongside Luciano ‘luchov’ Herrera, Meyer is one of the first two Argentine players to appear in a Major quarter-final.

Behind the scenes, the squad focused on correcting small in-game errors and on resetting mentally after the loss to Spirit and the subsequent defeat by Aurora. Meyer said the team addressed micro mistakes, rested, and returned with a clearer mindset that improved their play. ‘I had some times where I started to believe I had no more time for this, and I was really close to not playing anymore,’ he said. He added that a good night’s sleep and a positive mood helped the players perform.

Meyer described a change in approach after early wins: the team stopped overthinking opponents and concentrated on their processes, which increased consistency. Looking ahead to the playoffs, he plans to keep 9z’s routines and game plan and to enjoy the stage while maintaining focus.

9z’s quarter-final appearance at IEM Cologne marks the first time a Latin American team has reached the Major top eight.