9z delivered the first upset of the Thunderpick World Championship in Malta. The South American side beat World No.5 Aurora in two maps and sealed the series with a near-flawless performance on Nuke. After the match, coach Bruno “BIT” Fukuda Lima spoke to HLTV about what the result means for the team.
Why does this matter? 9z had struggled for months and had not beaten a tier-1 team since July. In his interview with HLTV, BIT explained how doubt crept into the team’s game. He also shared why this win could be a turning point before the Singapore Major race reaches its final stage.
A Rough Patch After a Title Run
The win matters because of how the last few months went for 9z. The team won the XSE Pro League Guangzhou title in July. Since then, however, it has won only four of 13 matches. As a result, 9z dropped to 17th in the global VRS.
The team did pick up some wins in EPL, including victories over BETBOOM and TYLOO. Even so, BIT points out that 9z had not beaten a tier-1 team since July. Aurora, meanwhile, arrived in Malta in good form after a third-place finish at EPL. 9z had also lost to Aurora very recently in Pro League.
How 9z Changed the Matchup
This time, 9z tried a different approach. In the last two meetings, the team picked Dust2 and had little chance. Therefore, 9z switched to Inferno, which gave the team a chance to open the series with a win.
Aurora also changed its plan. The team usually picks Mirage against 9z, but this time it played Nuke. According to BIT, Nuke is hard when you start on the T side and things are not clicking. In the end, 9z imposed its own rhythm and closed out the series in two maps.
BIT also praised the players. He pointed to HUASOPEEK in the pistol rounds and to luchov, adding that everyone had good moments and good reads. However, the win was not perfect. On Inferno, 9z gave away several rounds in the second half, including a 5v2. BIT told HLTV that the team overcommitted and played very all-in positions despite having an advantage.
BIT on Confidence and Calm
For 9z, the result brought a badly needed boost. BIT told HLTV that the team had started to question its own decisions before this match.
It was important, mainly because we had started to doubt a lot of things that we had been doing, rounds, some things, some calls, and that starts to make a difference when you’re not on the same page while you’re playing the match.
BIT also noted that the team stayed composed even when it got a little anxious on Inferno. In his words, nobody got frustrated or complained about how they died. He called that an important sign for a team that has been searching for answers.
The Major Race and What Comes Next
For 9z, the stakes reach beyond this event. HLTV’s latest projections give the team a 60% chance of booking a spot in Stage 2 of the Singapore Major. BIT admits that Stage 3 may be out of reach. Still, 9z is going for a Stage 2 spot.
According to the coach, the team does not spend much time thinking about the Major invite. Instead, 9z is focused on making the playoffs in Malta and then in Bucharest. He believes that approach will help the Major situation sort itself out.
BIT also set a clear goal for the team, which is to return to the playoffs on a regular basis. Notably, he pointed to the team’s earlier success this year.
We had a pretty interesting run of several playoffs at some point in the first half of the year.
BIT added that 9z goes into every tournament to win, but must take it step by step.
Why This Win Matters for 9z
In short, this upset gives 9z more than one result. It is a first tier-1 win since July, a boost in confidence, and a step toward Stage 2 in Singapore. Now 9z must prove it can repeat the performance. If the team finds consistency, a return to the playoffs in Malta and Bucharest looks realistic.
