The final day of the group stage at the IEM Cologne Major 2026 featured six teams fighting for the last three available playoff tickets. The opening match presented a clash between 9z and The MongolZ. As the final two rosters from outside Europe remaining in the tournament, the series carried the extra weight of securing a regional representative in the LANXESS Arena playoffs. Ultimately, it was the South American squad that emerged victorious.
Dominance on the opponent’s map pick
The series kicked off on Inferno, which was the map selected by The MongolZ. 9z quickly took control of the server, replicating the high level of Counter-Strike that previously handed Vitality a rare defeat and pushed Team Spirit to the limit earlier in the group stage.
The South American team relied on a highly effective second half to separate themselves from their opponents. 9z controlled the pacing and dictated the rounds, leaving The MongolZ without answers. The map concluded with a 13-8 scoreline in favor of 9z, who demonstrated clear superiority on their opponent’s choice.
dgt sets the tone on Overpass
The second map brought the teams to Overpass, where 9z started aggressively. Franco “dgt” Garcia delivered a flawless ace in the opening pistol round, continuing the strong individual form he had displayed on Inferno. The Uruguayan player consistently found openings and secured valuable Terrorist rounds for his team early in the half.
The MongolZ eventually managed to stabilize their defense and mount a solid recovery, limiting 9z to five rounds on their offensive half. The Mongolian roster ended the half with the momentum in their favor, raising the question of whether a five-round Terrorist half would be sufficient for 9z to close out the series.
A flawless defensive masterclass
Any doubts regarding 9z’s ability to maintain a lead were quickly erased in the second half. Having previously struggled to hold onto advantages against teams like Team Spirit, 9z presented a refined and impenetrable Counter-Terrorist setup.
They entirely shut down the initial offensive efforts from The MongolZ, making a clean sweep of rounds to reach match point at 12-7. While the Asian squad managed to salvage one chaotic round to stay alive temporarily, it was not enough to spark a full comeback. 9z claimed the following round to finalize a 13-8 victory on Overpass.
With this result, 9z officially booked their first ever playoff appearance at a Major, ensuring that South American Counter-Strike will be represented on the big stage in Cologne.
