Reading Time:

Published: September 27, 2023

Written by: Stefan Velikov

  • The Sought American team faced VP after earning a spot for Group C of the EPL
  • It was a very close match, proving to be quite the spectacle for viewers
  • 9z have rebounded hard from their initial two losses in this ESL Pro League Season 18

9z continues to surprise everyone with their underdog story, as they recently scored an important victory against VP and are headed for the second-round playoffs of ESL Pro League Season 18.

9z Defeat Virtus.pro

ESL Pro League Season 18 has already seen some amazing performances by many of the competing teams, but sometimes fans get to see some very unexpected results. Such is the case with the South American organization 9z, who yesterday, much to many peoples’ surprise, sent one of the event’s favorites, Virtus.pro, packing home after an intense match that stretched to all three maps.

“This means a lot. We played against them a lot of times and couldn’t win, we continued to put hard work into ourselves, and now it’s all worth it,” said 9z’s captain Maximiliano “⁠max⁠” Gonzalez in an interview after the match. The South American team was set on a collision course with the Russian squad after the former secured the final EPL Group C berth after defeating 5yclone last week.

Max provided impact frags throughout the series and Santino “⁠try⁠” Rigal also produced a couple of highlight plays with the AWP to help guide the team forward. Despite that, Virtus.pro were not going to give up easily and managed to respond with their own counteroffensive on Inferno, although they then narrowly lost the final map, leading to them being eliminated.

Here’s How the Match Went

But before the drama played out on these two maps, the teams started out on Mirage, 9z’s choice, who managed to make a 5-1 lead. However, this was stopped by VP’s Dzhami “⁠Jame⁠” Ali and Petr “⁠fame⁠” Bolyshev who repeatedly found multi-kills, fending off site takes or successfully pushing through retakes, earning a 9-6 lead for their team by the end of the first half.

When the sides switched, both teams traded rounds, but 9z eventually retook the lead, climbing to 13 rounds. At this point, VP took a much-needed timeout and returned with a more aggressive playstyle. Although they scored a lot of rounds, it was too little too late, resulting in 9z taking Mirage 16-14.

Inferno came next, and the Russian players were much more comfortable on their own map pick. VP quickly gained the initiative, outplaying 9z on many occasions, and eventually took the first half with a 9-6 lead. This trend continued when the sides changed, with VP widening the gap in the score, despite the few successful rounds that 9z managed. However, this was not enough as VP eventually brought the map to a close with a comfortable 16-10 lead.

With everything on the liner, the teams entered the last map, Overpass, with 9z running out to a 4-0 lead on their defense, only for Virtus.pro to start steadily reeling them in. The Russians poked at 9z’s defenses and were in control, but the latter got some isolated wins here and there, forcing a 7-8 score at the end of the first half.

When the sides witched, 9z took the pistol round, in large part thanks to max. When the scoreboard read 12-8, Virtus.pro began to get on top of their defense, and they won a half-buy of their own to keep things intense. However, the South Americans kept their composure and exploited the B bombsite again and again, which eventually led to a close but definite 16-14 victory on the map.

9z’s victory comes as somewhat of a surprise considering Virtus.pro is one of the best teams in the world. It is yet another page in the underdog storyline the South Americans seem to have been showing us during the past few weeks. Their early start in the ESL Season 18 was not so great, as 9z was even sent to the Last Chance bracket by Imperial at one point, only to get out of there and win four matches in a row, with the one against VP being just the latest one.

The South American team now moves to the second round of the playoffs where they will meet Moviestar Riders, and if they win, 9z will face ENCE in the quarter-finals.

Check out Bitcasino for the best bonuses

From our 5 star review…

“In fact, we would argue that Bitcasino’s esports product is one of the best we have experienced. It’s simple, clear-cut, and offers a variety of products and options that other platforms are failing to deliver on.”

MORE INFO
Tags
CS:GO ESL Pro League Virtus.pro
Author Image
Stefan Velikov

Stefan is a well-versed gamer who loves every aspect of gaming - including its most competitive nature. He is bringing you the latest updates from the world of esports as he painstakingly tracks dozens of competitions. 

    Array
(
    [0] => Array
        (
            [_id] => guildeaglesanonymoesports1702286100000
            [type] => 0
            [origin_id] => 21240818
            [status] => active
            [start_time] => 2023-12-11T09:15:00.000Z
            [score] => 
            [competitors] => Array
                (
                    [0] => Array
                        (
                            [name] => Guild Eagles
                            [side] => home
                        )

                    [1] => Array
                        (
                            [name] => Anonymo Esports
                            [side] => away
                        )

                )

            [markets] => Array
                (
                    [winner] => Array
                        (
                            [_id] => 6573aca229f39ee300d529a9
                            [event_id] => guildeaglesanonymoesports1702286100000
                            [selections] => Array
                                (
                                    [0] => Array
                                        (
                                            [0] => home
                                            [1] => 1.47
                                        )

                                    [1] => Array
                                        (
                                            [0] => away
                                            [1] => 2.47
                                        )

                                )

                        )

                    [total_maps] => Array
                        (
                            [_id] => 6573aca229f39ee300d529aa
                            [event_id] => guildeaglesanonymoesports1702286100000
                            [selections] => Array
                                (
                                    [0] => Array
                                        (
                                            [0] => over_2.5
                                            [1] => 1.99
                                        )

                                    [1] => Array
                                        (
                                            [0] => under_2.5
                                            [1] => 1.73
                                        )

                                )

                        )

                    [correct_score_in_maps] => Array
                        (
                            [_id] => 6573aca229f39ee300d529ab
                            [event_id] => guildeaglesanonymoesports1702286100000
                            [selections] => Array
                                (
                                    [0] => Array
                                        (
                                            [0] => 2:0
                                            [1] => 2.48
                                        )

                                    [1] => Array
                                        (
                                            [0] => 0:2
                                            [1] => 4.55
                                        )

                                    [2] => Array
                                        (
                                            [0] => 2:1
                                            [1] => 3.2
                                        )

                                    [3] => Array
                                        (
                                            [0] => 1:2
                                            [1] => 4.22
                                        )

                                )

                        )

                    [map_handicap] => Array
                        (
                            [_id] => 6573aca229f39ee300d529ac
                            [event_id] => guildeaglesanonymoesports1702286100000
                            [selections] => Array
                                (
                                    [0] => Array
                                        (
                                            [0] => home_-1.5
                                            [1] => 2.51
                                        )

                                    [1] => Array
                                        (
                                            [0] => home_1.5
                                            [1] => 1.15
                                        )

                                    [2] => Array
                                        (
                                            [0] => away_1.5
                                            [1] => 1.46
                                        )

                                    [3] => Array
                                        (
                                            [0] => away_-1.5
                                            [1] => 4.65
                                        )

                                )

                        )

                    [winner_map1] => Array
                        (
                            [_id] => 6573aca229f39ee300d529ad
                            [event_id] => guildeaglesanonymoesports1702286100000
                            [selections] => Array
                                (
                                    [0] => Array
                                        (
                                            [0] => home
                                            [1] => 1.56
                                        )

                                    [1] => Array
                                        (
                                            [0] => away
                                            [1] => 2.26
                                        )

                                )

                        )

                    [winner_map2] => Array
                        (
                            [_id] => 6573aca229f39ee300d529ae
                            [event_id] => guildeaglesanonymoesports1702286100000
                            [selections] => Array
                                (
                                    [0] => Array
                                        (
                                            [0] => home
                                            [1] => 1.56
                                        )

                                    [1] => Array
                                        (
                                            [0] => away
                                            [1] => 2.26
                                        )

                                )

                        )

                    [winner_map3] => Array
                        (
                            [_id] => 6573aca229f39ee300d529af
                            [event_id] => guildeaglesanonymoesports1702286100000
                            [selections] => Array
                                (
                                    [0] => Array
                                        (
                                            [0] => home
                                            [1] => 1.59
                                        )

                                    [1] => Array
                                        (
                                            [0] => away
                                            [1] => 2.2
                                        )

                                )

                        )

                )

            [sport] => Array
                (
                    [_id] => counter-strike
                    [name] => Counter-Strike
                    [esport] => 1
                )

            [tournament] => Array
                (
                    [_id] => counter-strike-international-t9558-compass
                    [name] => Compass
                )

            [category] => Array
                (
                    [_id] => 628a1181620f414f95577c7d
                    [key] => international
                    [name] => International
                )

        )

    [1] => Array
        (
            [_id] => wildcardnrg1702339200000
            [type] => 0
            [origin_id] => 21237215
            [status] => active
            [start_time] => 2023-12-12T00:00:00.000Z
            [score] => 
            [competitors] => Array
                (
                    [0] => Array
                        (
                            [name] => Wildcard
                            [side] => home
                        )

                    [1] => Array
                        (
                            [name] => NRG
                            [side] => away
                        )

                )

            [markets] => Array
                (
                    [winner] => Array
                        (
                            [_id] => 65735fab2dac1704d4b490e1
                            [event_id] => wildcardnrg1702339200000
                            [selections] => Array
                                (
                                    [0] => Array
                                        (
                                            [0] => home
                                            [1] => 1.85
                                        )

                                    [1] => Array
                                        (
                                            [0] => away
                                            [1] => 1.84
                                        )

                                )

                        )

                    [total_maps] => Array
                        (
                            [_id] => 65735fab2dac1704d4b490e2
                            [event_id] => wildcardnrg1702339200000
                            [selections] => Array
                                (
                                    [0] => Array
                                        (
                                            [0] => over_2.5
                                            [1] => 1.93
                                        )

                                    [1] => Array
                                        (
                                            [0] => under_2.5
                                            [1] => 1.77
                                        )

                                )

                        )

                    [map_handicap] => Array
                        (
                            [_id] => 65735fab2dac1704d4b490e3
                            [event_id] => wildcardnrg1702339200000
                            [selections] => Array
                                (
                                    [0] => Array
                                        (
                                            [0] => home_1.5
                                            [1] => 1.28
                                        )

                                    [1] => Array
                                        (
                                            [0] => home_-1.5
                                            [1] => 3.34
                                        )

                                    [2] => Array
                                        (
                                            [0] => away_-1.5
                                            [1] => 3.33
                                        )

                                    [3] => Array
                                        (
                                            [0] => away_1.5
                                            [1] => 1.27
                                        )

                                )

                        )

                    [winner_map1] => Array
                        (
                            [_id] => 65735fab2dac1704d4b490e4
                            [event_id] => wildcardnrg1702339200000
                            [selections] => Array
                                (
                                    [0] => Array
                                        (
                                            [0] => home
                                            [1] => 1.85
                                        )

                                    [1] => Array
                                        (
                                            [0] => away
                                            [1] => 1.85
                                        )

                                )

                        )

                    [winner_map2] => Array
                        (
                            [_id] => 65735fab2dac1704d4b490e5
                            [event_id] => wildcardnrg1702339200000
                            [selections] => Array
                                (
                                    [0] => Array
                                        (
                                            [0] => home
                                            [1] => 1.85
                                        )

                                    [1] => Array
                                        (
                                            [0] => away
                                            [1] => 1.84
                                        )

                                )

                        )

                    [winner_map3] => Array
                        (
                            [_id] => 65735fab2dac1704d4b490e6
                            [event_id] => wildcardnrg1702339200000
                            [selections] => Array
                                (
                                    [0] => Array
                                        (
                                            [0] => home
                                            [1] => 1.85
                                        )

                                    [1] => Array
                                        (
                                            [0] => away
                                            [1] => 1.84
                                        )

                                )

                        )

                )

            [sport] => Array
                (
                    [_id] => counter-strike
                    [name] => Counter-Strike
                    [esport] => 1
                )

            [tournament] => Array
                (
                    [_id] => counter-strike-international-mythic-cup
                    [name] => Mythic Cup
                )

            [category] => Array
                (
                    [_id] => 628a1181620f414f95577c7d
                    [key] => international
                    [name] => International
                )

        )

    [2] => Array
        (
            [_id] => m80fluffyaimers1702348200000
            [type] => 0
            [origin_id] => 21237213
            [status] => active
            [start_time] => 2023-12-12T02:30:00.000Z
            [score] => 
            [competitors] => Array
                (
                    [0] => Array
                        (
                            [name] => M80
                            [side] => home
                        )

                    [1] => Array
                        (
                            [name] => FLUFFY AIMERS
                            [side] => away
                        )

                )

            [markets] => Array
                (
                    [winner] => Array
                        (
                            [_id] => 6573629529f39ee300d38192
                            [event_id] => m80fluffyaimers1702348200000
                            [selections] => Array
                                (
                                    [0] => Array
                                        (
                                            [0] => home
                                            [1] => 1.06
                                        )

                                    [1] => Array
                                        (
                                            [0] => away
                                            [1] => 8.85
                                        )

                                )

                        )

                    [total_maps] => Array
                        (
                            [_id] => 6573629529f39ee300d38193
                            [event_id] => m80fluffyaimers1702348200000
                            [selections] => Array
                                (
                                    [0] => Array
                                        (
                                            [0] => over_2.5
                                            [1] => 3.11
                                        )

                                    [1] => Array
                                        (
                                            [0] => under_2.5
                                            [1] => 1.31
                                        )

                                )

                        )

                    [map_handicap] => Array
                        (
                            [_id] => 6573629529f39ee300d38194
                            [event_id] => m80fluffyaimers1702348200000
                            [selections] => Array
                                (
                                    [0] => Array
                                        (
                                            [0] => home_-1.5
                                            [1] => 1.36
                                        )

                                    [1] => Array
                                        (
                                            [0] => home_1.5
                                            [1] => 1.01
                                        )

                                    [2] => Array
                                        (
                                            [0] => away_1.5
                                            [1] => 2.86
                                        )

                                    [3] => Array
                                        (
                                            [0] => away_-1.5
                                            [1] => 18.7
                                        )

                                )

                        )

                    [winner_map1] => Array
                        (
                            [_id] => 6573629529f39ee300d38195
                            [event_id] => m80fluffyaimers1702348200000
                            [selections] => Array
                                (
                                    [0] => Array
                                        (
                                            [0] => home
                                            [1] => 1.1
                                        )

                                    [1] => Array
                                        (
                                            [0] => away
                                            [1] => 6.1
                                        )

                                )

                        )

                    [winner_map2] => Array
                        (
                            [_id] => 6573629529f39ee300d38196
                            [event_id] => m80fluffyaimers1702348200000
                            [selections] => Array
                                (
                                    [0] => Array
                                        (
                                            [0] => home
                                            [1] => 1.09
                                        )

                                    [1] => Array
                                        (
                                            [0] => away
                                            [1] => 6.27
                                        )

                                )

                        )

                    [winner_map3] => Array
                        (
                            [_id] => 6573629529f39ee300d38197
                            [event_id] => m80fluffyaimers1702348200000
                            [selections] => Array
                                (
                                    [0] => Array
                                        (
                                            [0] => home
                                            [1] => 1.13
                                        )

                                    [1] => Array
                                        (
                                            [0] => away
                                            [1] => 5.03
                                        )

                                )

                        )

                )

            [sport] => Array
                (
                    [_id] => counter-strike
                    [name] => Counter-Strike
                    [esport] => 1
                )

            [tournament] => Array
                (
                    [_id] => counter-strike-international-mythic-cup
                    [name] => Mythic Cup
                )

            [category] => Array
                (
                    [_id] => 628a1181620f414f95577c7d
                    [key] => international
                    [name] => International
                )

        )

)
1
Live odds: CS:GO

09:15 AM

Home

Away

Gui
Ano
1.47
2.47

00:00 AM

Home

Away

Wil
NRG
1.85
1.84

02:30 AM

Home

Away

M80
FLU
1.06
8.85

Similar posts

CS:GO
November 29, 2023
NRG Reveal Brand New Counter-Strike 2 Roster

After spending more than four years away from competitive Counter-Strike, NRG has decided to return to the scene by fielding a new team. NRG Announces New Roster North American esports organization NRG was created way back in late 2015 and initially fielded a CS:GO roster which was critical for the early growth and popularity of […]
CS:GO
November 27, 2023
ENCE Sign Gla1ve and Kuben

ENCE have found a new power duo in the face of new in-game leader Lukas “⁠gla1ve⁠” Rossander and coach Jakub “⁠kuben⁠” Gurczynski who bring a ton of experience to the roster. Gla1ve and Kuben Join ENCE Over the past few days, things have been moving rather fast for ENCE’s Counter-Strike 2 roster. The organization said […]
Apex Legends
November 27, 2023
British Esports and Pearson Reveal New Educational Qualifications

National esports body British Esports Federation announced its next project alongside educational services company Pearson that aims to provide more opportunities for young people wanting to work in the esports industry. British Esports Introduce New Qualifications As esports grow and become a source of prestige for countries, just like classic sports, many organizations worldwide are […]
CS:GO
November 24, 2023
Jabbi and Stavn Join Astralis’s CS2 Lineup

After jabbi and stavn were benched by Heroic, their former team, last month over rumors they have reached an agreement with Astralis, the latter organization finally confirmed the signing of both players. Astralis Signs Both Players Astralis suffered a somewhat humiliating early exit from the BLAST Fall Final after a defeat from Heroic. It seems […]
CS:GO
November 23, 2023
CS2 Hits All-Time Low Player Count

It’s been almost two months since CS2 was released, but it seems that the game has not had the popularity explosion Valve had hoped for, but instead saw hundreds of thousands of players drop it. CS2 Player Numbers Drop It’s no secret that the Counter-Strike franchise is one of the most popular FPSes in the […]
CS:GO
November 22, 2023
Gla1ve Leaves Astralis’ CS2 Team

After spending a whopping seven years with Astralis during which the team ascended to becoming the best of all time, the organization announced Lukas “⁠gla1ve⁠” Rossander is leaving. Astralis and Gla1Ve Part Ways Danish CS2 player Lukas “⁠gla1ve⁠” Rossander has stayed on Astralis’ bench since June, when he was replaced as in-game leader by Benjamin […]
CS:GO
November 21, 2023
Nexa Returns to G2’s Counter-Strike Roster

Having had his first stint with G2 between 2019 and 2021, Nemanja “nexa” Isaković returns to the European organization’s CS2 lineup. G2 Sign Nexa Often regarded as the best Serbian Counter-Strike player of all time, Nemanja “nexa” Isaković would bring a ton of experience and skill into any team he is a part of. Over […]
CS:GO
November 20, 2023
New Glitch Allows CS2 Players to Reload Faster

Counter-Strike 2 players have discovered a glitch that allows them to reload weapons faster when they switch to their knife twice, sparking a debate of how and when can this be used. Fans Discover Glitch Since the days of CS 1.6, the game has been popular for having some exploits that can allow players to […]
CS:GO
November 17, 2023
M80 Qualify For ESL Challenger Atlanta

M80 had a rough start in the North America ESL Challengers Atlanta Qualifier, but managed to push through, beating Evil Geniuses in the tournament’s finals to earn a spot at the main event. M80 Win the NA Qualifier We are less than a month away from the start of the ESL Challenger Atlanta and teams […]