BIG kept their playoff hopes alive with a confident 2-0 victory over B8 in the decisive 2-2 Swiss Stage match at XSE Pro League Guangzhou 2026. The German squad claimed Inferno 16-13 before closing the series on Ancient 13-11, securing the final playoff berth, while B8’s tournament run came to an end.
Road through the Swiss Stage
BIG recovered impressively after a difficult start to the event. They opened the tournament with a narrow 14-16 win to Lynn Vision before lose to BetBoom, overcoming MIBR in Round 3, beating Ninjas in Pyjamas in an elimination series, and finally eliminating B8 to finish the Swiss Stage with a 3-2 record.
B8 started strongly with victories over MIBR and Lynn Vision but suffered consecutive defeats to Alliance, Nemesis, and BIG. The Ukrainian organization exits the tournament with a 2-3 record, falling one win short of the playoffs.
BIG survive elimination match to reach the playoffs
With both teams entering the final Swiss round at a 2-2 record, only one could continue the tournament. BIG handled the pressure better, edging out B8 on Inferno before completing the sweep on Ancient. Benjamin “blameF” Bremer led the series with a 1.32 rating, while every BIG player finished above a 1.00 rating, highlighting the team’s balanced performance.
For B8, Andrii “npl” Kukharskyi was the standout performer with a 1.37 rating, but the Ukrainian side could not overcome BIG’s consistency across both maps.
BIG edge out Inferno before closing on Ancient
BIG opened the series by winning their own map pick, Inferno, 16-13 after a tightly contested battle that remained close until the final rounds. B8 responded well throughout the map but failed to capitalize on several late opportunities as the Germans secured the opener.
Ancient proved slightly less competitive. BIG built momentum early and maintained control throughout the second map, eventually sealing a 13-11 victory to book their place in the playoffs.
Best player of the match
Benjamin “blameF” Bremer earned Player of the Match honors after producing another reliable all-around performance. The Danish rifler finished the series with 45 kills, an 87.6 ADR, and a 1.32 rating, consistently delivering impact in key rounds to guide BIG into the playoff stage.
VRS impact
The victory also improved BIG’s position in the Valve Regional Standings. The German team gained 43 VRS points, climbing from 25th to 22nd place, while B8 lost 18 points and dropped from 16th to 17th.
Community reaction
BIG celebrated the victory on social media with the message “WE’RE NOT NRG BABY”, adding that they had taken revenge for their earlier Cologne defeat to B8 while confirming their place in the XSE Pro League Guangzhou 2026 playoffs.
B8 acknowledged the end of their campaign with a brief farewell post, thanking supporters after their elimination. Despite missing the playoffs, the Ukrainian squad showed promising performances throughout the Swiss Stage and remained competitive until the final qualification match.
What’s next?
By securing the victory, BIG completed an impressive comeback from a 1-2 start in the Swiss Stage and claimed one of the final playoff spots at XSE Pro League Guangzhou 2026. The German squad will now shift its focus to the knockout stage, where stronger opposition awaits as they continue their bid for the title.
For B8, the defeat brings their tournament run to an end. The Ukrainian team showed encouraging form with wins over MIBR and Lynn Vision early in the event, but three consecutive losses in the later Swiss rounds denied them a place in the playoffs. Despite the disappointing finish, the roster gained valuable experience against top international opposition and will look to build on that performance in upcoming tournaments.
