Following their opening round victories, Vitality and 9z faced off in the 1-0 bracket of Stage 3 at the IEM Cologne Major 2026. Despite entering the series as heavy favorites, Vitality suffered a 2-1 defeat as the South American squad secured a major upset to advance to a 2-0 record.
A predictable start on Inferno
The series opened on Inferno, where Vitality quickly demonstrated their tactical superiority. The European squad dismantled the 9z defense, securing a dominant 13-4 victory. William “mezii” Merriman led the server with a highly systematic performance, minimizing the need for star player Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut to make a significant impact on the opening map.
South American squad strike back on Mirage
The momentum shifted entirely on Mirage. 9z established immediate control, driven by an exceptional first half from Luciano “luchov” Herrera. The South American roster secured a surprising 10-2 lead by halftime, showcasing their capability against top-tier opposition. Despite an attempted recovery from Vitality in the second half, 9z closed the map 13-9. This marked the second map loss of the tournament for Vitality, following their previous encounter against FUT.
Dust2 decider secures the upset
The deciding map on Dust2 proved to be a tightly contested affair. Vitality found early success, building a four-round advantage behind the continued strong play of mezii. 9z responded by stringing together several well-executed rounds to equalize the score at 6-6 by the halftime break.
Transitioning to their CT side, 9z maintained the pressure. They pulled ahead to a 9-7 lead and successfully fended off the remaining attacks from Vitality. 9z claimed the map 13-11, finalizing the series victory and securing one of the most significant upsets of the tournament.
