FURIA have secured their place in the Esports World Cup 2026 playoffs after defeating 9z 2-1 in the Group D upper-bracket semifinal. The Brazilian side took Dust2 13-6, lost Mirage 13-16, and then dominated Nuke 13-6 to close the series. Kaike “KSCERATO” Cerato was the standout player with a 1.47 rating. The victory gives FURIA a perfect 2-0 start at the event, while 9z will have one more chance to qualify.
FURIA continue their perfect start at EWC 2026
FURIA entered the series after beating Wildcard 13-10 on Inferno in their opening match. The victory put them one series away from securing a place in the playoffs. 9z had made an even stronger start. The South American squad crushed paiN 13-3 on Cache and arrived against FURIA on a five-match winning streak. However, FURIA ended that run with a strong three-map performance. The Brazilians now advance directly to the playoffs, while 9z drop into the Group D deciding match.
FURIA take control of Dust2 before 9z answer on Mirage
The series opened on Dust2, 9z’s map pick. FURIA quickly took control and built a 7-5 halftime advantage. Their defense was even stronger after the break, as 9z managed only one more round. FURIA closed the map 13-6 to take the lead in the series. Mirage was FURIA’s pick, but 9z responded. The teams were tied 5-5 after ten rounds before 9z edged ahead 7-5 at halftime. FURIA recovered after the side switch and eventually forced overtime at 12-12.
This time, 9z held their nerve. They won four of the five overtime rounds to take Mirage 16-13 and send the series to Nuke. FURIA regained control on the decider. They built another 7-5 lead before producing a dominant second half. 9z won only one round after the break, allowing FURIA to close Nuke 13-6 and complete the 2-1 victory.
KSCERATO dominates with a 1.47 rating
Kaike “KSCERATO” Cerato delivered the best performance of the match. He finished the three maps with 65 kills and 41 deaths, recording 93.7 ADR and an 82.1% KAST. His overall rating reached an impressive 1.47. Yuri “yuurih” Santos finished with a 1.08 rating, while Danil “molodoy” Golubenko followed at 1.07. Mareks “YEKINDAR” Gaļinskis also remained above 1.00 with a 1.02 rating.
Matias “HUASOPEEK” Ibáñez Hernandez was 9z’s clear standout despite the defeat. He recorded 53 kills, 88.0 ADR and a 1.30 rating. None of his teammates managed to finish above 1.00.
FURIA climb three places in the VRS
The victory also provides FURIA with a major boost in the projected Valve Regional Standings. They gained 70 points, increasing their total from 1,795 to 1,865. As a result, FURIA are projected to climb three positions from No. 8 to No. 5.
9z lost 15 points following the defeat. Their total drops from 1,903 to 1,888, while they are projected to fall one position from No. 3 to No. 4. FURIA therefore leave the series with both a playoff ticket and a significant improvement in their VRS position.
FURIA extend their head-to-head advantage over 9z
The result also strengthens FURIA’s historical advantage in this matchup. The Brazilian organization now leads the head-to-head series against 9z 7-4. The teams had already met at the IEM Cologne Major 2026. FURIA won that series 2-1 after taking Overpass 13-6 and Mirage 13-9, while 9z claimed Dust2 13-8. Their latest meeting followed a similar pattern. 9z once again managed to take one map, but FURIA ultimately came out on top.
Teams react after the match
FURIA celebrated their qualification immediately after the victory:
YOUR #FURIACS IS QUALIFIED FOR THE #EWC26.
The organization also highlighted the 13-6 wins on Dust2 and Nuke before celebrating another playoff appearance. 9z acknowledged the defeat but quickly turned their attention to their final opportunity:
We fell 1-2 to @FURIA in the Upper Bracket of Group D at #EWC26.
The organization then confirmed that the team will face magic in its final chance to reach the playoffs:
It’s not over yet, tomorrow against #magic we’ll have the last chance to qualify for the Playoffs of the Esports World Cup 2026.
What’s next?
FURIA have secured their place in the Esports World Cup 2026 playoffs after winning both of their Group D matches. Victories over Wildcard and 9z allow the Brazilians to move directly into the knockout stage with plenty of momentum. 9z remain alive despite the defeat. Their five-match winning streak has ended, but they will now face magic in the Group D deciding match. The winner will claim the group’s remaining playoff spot.
