9z Upsets Vitality at IEM Cologne, One Win From Playoffs

On the second day of Stage 3 at the IEM Cologne Major, 9z defeated Vitality in a three-map series to move into the 2-0 pool and sit one win away from a playoff berth.

The Hispanic-American roster entered Cologne after domestic success earlier in the year, a win over MOUZ at BLAST Open Rotterdam and a quarter-final appearance at PGL Astana. At Rotterdam the team suffered heavy losses to Vitality and Spirit; the coach said the earlier defeats provided lessons the squad used in Cologne.

Coach Bruno “BIT” Fukuda Lima credited small adjustments and stage experience for the result, saying the changes were more mental than tactical. “Every match that we play, we learn something,” BIT added, noting the team has worked on communication and calm decision-making under pressure.

BIT described the adjustments as details rather than large strategic shifts. He highlighted on-map elements such as utility use and after-plant setups as decisive on maps like Inferno, where a single missed smoke or a poor post-plant position can determine rounds.

Players produced strong individual shows while maintaining team cohesion, the coach said, with roster members proposing plays and supporting one another instead of only reacting to opponents. “Everyone played very good individually; as a team, we played very well. We are helping each other a lot,” BIT said.

The coach stressed the immediate objective remains reaching the arena for the playoffs and performing there. He urged continued study of opponents and incremental improvements rather than major overhauls.

BIT also pointed to PGL Astana as useful stage experience, saying some in-game pressures and timing can only be learned by playing on the big stage. He added that playing live events helps the team adjust when they return to those settings.

9z’s history against Vitality now includes wins at IEM Dallas 2024 and the BLAST Spring Showdown 2021. BIT noted those results alongside the Cologne win while reiterating that the team’s priority is securing the playoff spot.