magic have secured their place in the Esports World Cup 2026 playoffs after defeating 9z 2-1 in the Group D lower-bracket semifinal. The European squad survived a 19-17 battle on Ancient, lost Dust2 10-13, and then closed Inferno 13-10. Andrey “AW” Anisimov delivered the standout performance with a 1.42 rating, while Nikita “tenzy” Kochenyuk finished at 1.35. The victory sends magic into the playoffs and eliminates 9z from the tournament.
magic recover after opening defeat
magic started their Esports World Cup campaign with a 7-13 loss to The MongolZ on Mirage. The defeat immediately sent them into the lower bracket and left no room for another mistake. They responded with a convincing 2-0 victory over 3DMAX to keep their tournament run alive. That result set up a deciding series against 9z, with the winner advancing to the playoffs.
9z followed the opposite route. They opened the event by crushing paiN 13-3 on Cache before losing a close three-map series against FURIA. That defeat sent them into the elimination match against magic. After another three-map battle, magic came out on top and claimed the remaining Group D playoff spot.
magic survive Ancient before 9z respond on Dust2
The series started on Ancient, magic’s map pick. Neither side managed to create a significant advantage during regulation, with the score tied at 12-12 after 24 rounds. The battle continued through overtime before magic finally broke the deadlock. They closed the map 19-17 to take a 1-0 series lead after 36 rounds of play. 9z responded on their Dust2 pick. They held a narrow 7-5 advantage at halftime before keeping magic under control after the side switch. A 13-10 victory tied the series and forced Inferno.
magic produced a strong start on the decider and built a 9-3 halftime lead. 9z attempted to mount a comeback and won seven rounds in the second half. However, the deficit proved too large. magic found the four rounds they needed to close Inferno 13-10 and secure the series 2-1.
AW leads magic with a 1.42 rating
Andrey “AW” Anisimov was the clear standout player across the three maps. He finished the series with 72 kills and 47 deaths, while recording 88.0 ADR and a 76.8% KAST. His overall rating reached 1.42. Nikita “tenzy” Kochenyuk also played a major role in the victory. He produced a match-high 74 kills, added 84.0 ADR and finished with a 1.35 rating.
For 9z, Ignacio “meyern” Meyer was the team’s best performer with a 1.12 rating. Luciano “luchov” Herrera followed at 1.01, while Matias “HUASOPEEK” Ibáñez Hernandez finished at 1.00.
magic make a major jump in the VRS
The victory also gives magic a significant boost in the projected Valve Regional Standings. They gained 74 points, increasing their total from 1,520 to 1,594. As a result, magic are projected to climb four positions from No. 25 to No. 21.
9z suffered a costly drop after the defeat. They lost 25 points, reducing their total from 1,858 to 1,833. The team are projected to fall three positions from No. 4 to No. 7. For magic, the result therefore brings both a playoff ticket and an important improvement in their global ranking.
magic extend their head-to-head advantage
The result also gives magic another victory over 9z. The teams had previously met at PGL Astana 2026, where magic won the three-map series 2-1. In that meeting, magic took Ancient 13-11 before 9z responded with a dominant 13-2 victory on Mirage. Dust2 decided the series, with magic closing the map 13-9. Their latest encounter followed the same pattern. Once again, the teams required all three maps, and magic came out on top. They now lead the head-to-head series 2-0.
9z react after elimination
9z confirmed the end of their Esports World Cup campaign after the match:
We fell 1-2 to magic in the Lower Bracket of Group D.
The organization also reflected on how close the team came to extending its tournament run:
We came so close to a comeback in the decider, and with this result, our run in the Esports World Cup 2026 comes to an end.
The defeat ends a campaign that started with an impressive victory over paiN but ultimately produced back-to-back losses against FURIA and magic.
What’s next?
magic advance to the Esports World Cup 2026 playoffs after recovering from their opening defeat to The MongolZ. Back-to-back victories over 3DMAX and 9z secured the team’s place in the knockout stage. For 9z, the tournament is over. The South American squad leave EWC 2026 with a 1-2 record after defeating paiN before falling to FURIA and magic. Their five-series winning streak entering the FURIA match ultimately ended with two consecutive defeats and elimination from the event.
