The South American team 9z (#59 in the world, #52 VRS) and the Polish roster Venom (#75 in the world, #63 VRS) earned crucial victories in the elimination matches of the Thunderpick World Championship 2025 group stage. 9z defeated OG (#33 in the world, #32 VRS) with a score of 2–1 (7–13 Train, 13–8 Nuke, 19–16 Ancient), while Venom beat Imperial (#43 in the world, #34 VRS) with the same score of 2–1 (13–6 Train, 5–13 Overpass, 13–11 Dust2). Both teams move on to the Decider Match, where they will fight for the final playoff spots, while OG and Imperial are eliminated from the tournament.
How the matches unfolded
OG vs 9z (1–2)
- Train (9z’s pick) — 13:7. OG started strong, but 9z quickly adapted and imposed an aggressive style. Luca “Luken” Nadotti was the driving force of the squad (74–48 K–D, Rating 1.60), dominating duels and winning key clutch rounds.
- Nuke (OG’s pick) — 8:13. The Argentinians took full control of the second map, forcing OG into costly retake mistakes. HUASOPEEK and max provided stability on defense.
Ancient (decider) — 16:19. A tense finish went in favor of 9z, who showed composure in overtime. Luken closed the match with an ace in the final round.
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Player of the Match — Luca “Luken” Nadotti
- K–D: 74–48
- ADR: 106.8
- Rating 3.0: 1.60
- KAST: 73.7%
Luken once again proved he is one of the best snipers in the region, and his consistent performance across all three maps was the key to his team’s triumph.
Imperial vs Venom (1–2)
- Train (Venom’s pick) — 6:13. The Polish squad demolished their opponent on their own pick thanks to disciplined play from Alan “flayy” Krupa, who recorded 55–39 K–D (Rating 1.36).
- Overpass (Imperial’s pick) — 13:5. The Brazilians struck back with confidence, dominating throughout, but their momentum didn’t carry into the decider.
- Dust2 (decider) — 11:13. The most intense map of the series. Venom held their ground despite a strong comeback from chelo and try, closing the game in the final round thanks to a clutch from innocent.
Player of the Match — Alan “flayy” Krupa
- K–D: 55–39
- ADR: 91.4
- Rating 3.0: 1.36
- KAST: 75.4%
Flayy delivered one of the best performances of his career, showing composure and consistency under pressure. His individual form became the decisive factor behind Venom’s historic victory.
VRS results after the matches
- 9z gained +54 VRS points (1114 → 1168), climbing from #52 to #46.
- OG lost –23 points (1341 → 1318), dropping to #35.
- Venom gained +59 points (1061 → 1120), rising from #63 to #51.
- Imperial lost –24 points (1333 → 1309), falling from #34 to #35.
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Tournament context
The Thunderpick World Championship 2025 is a major LAN event with a $850,000 prize pool, part of the Valve Regional Standings (VRS) system. Its results directly influence qualification for the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025. The group stage follows the GSL format: two wins guarantee advancement to the playoffs, while two losses mean elimination.
What’s next for the teams
- 9z move on to the Decider Match, where they will face The MongolZ for the final semifinal spot. The Argentinians are showing excellent form, and this victory could become a turning point in their quest for a playoff berth.
- Venom also advance to the Decider Match in Group B, where they will face Aurora. For the Polish team, this is their best opportunity in years to reach the playoff stage of a major event.
- OG and Imperial are out of the tournament, finishing 7th–8th and earning $8,000 each, along with 12,000 club points.
Match summary
9z and Venom have proven that even lower-ranked teams can challenge the giants. Their victories not only extended their runs at the Thunderpick World Championship 2025, but also played a key role in their ongoing qualification race for the next Major. Both teams now face decisive matches that will determine their fate in the tournament.
