Alliance Stun 9z as FaZe Eliminate 3DMAX on XSE Pro League Guangzhou Day 4

07.07.2026 - 09:11

Alliance Stun 9z as FaZe Eliminate 3DMAX on XSE Pro League Guangzhou Day 4

Short intro

Day four of XSE Pro League Guangzhou 2026 delivered one of the biggest surprises of the Swiss Stage as Alliance defeated tournament favorites 9z to secure a playoff spot. Meanwhile, FaZe responded to early tournament struggles with a convincing victory over 3DMAX, eliminating the French side and keeping their own playoff hopes alive.

Quick Summary

Item	Result
Biggest surprise	Alliance defeated 9z 2-0
Biggest favorite win	FaZe swept 3DMAX 2-0
Alliance status	Qualified for playoffs
FaZe status	Advanced to the 2-2 pool
3DMAX status	Eliminated
Tournament	XSE Pro League Guangzhou 2026
Format	Swiss Stage

Alliance deliver biggest upset of the day against 9z

Alliance entered the fourth Swiss round as underdogs against a 9z squad that had been viewed as one of the strongest contenders outside of tournament favorite BetBoom. Instead, the Swedish team produced one of its most impressive performances of the season.

The series ended 2-0 in Alliance's favor, earning the organization a place in the playoff bracket while handing 9z its first loss after reaching the 2-1 pool. According to HLTV's match report, eraa led Alliance's scoreboard during the victory, helping the team overcome one of South America's highest-ranked rosters.

For Alliance, the victory represents considerably more than simply another Swiss Stage win. Defeating a top-ranked opponent on LAN demonstrates that the roster can compete against stronger international opposition and gives the team valuable momentum heading into the knockout stage.

FaZe dominate 3DMAX to avoid elimination

On the opposite side of the bracket, FaZe entered the day with no room for error.

Following disappointing early-round losses, the international lineup needed a victory to remain in contention. They responded emphatically by defeating 3DMAX 2-0.

FaZe controlled both maps and never allowed the French side to establish consistent momentum. The result eliminated 3DMAX from the tournament while moving FaZe into the decisive 2-2 qualification pool, where one final victory would still be enough to reach the playoffs.

Although FaZe are still not through, the performance was considerably more convincing than their earlier matches in Guangzhou and showed signs that the team may be finding its rhythm when it matters most.

Background and tournament context

XSE Pro League Guangzhou 2026 uses a Swiss Stage format before transitioning into playoffs.

Teams reaching three victories qualify for the knockout stage, while those suffering three losses are eliminated.

Coming into day four:

Alliance and 9z met in the 2-1 qualification pool, with the winner advancing directly to playoffs.
FaZe and 3DMAX played in the 1-2 elimination pool, meaning the loser would immediately exit the event.

That made every series one of the most important of the tournament so far.

Why this matters

Alliance

The Swedish organization now reaches the playoff stage after defeating one of the event's strongest teams.

Besides securing qualification, the victory gives Alliance additional credibility against higher-ranked international opposition and could become one of the roster's defining LAN wins if the playoff run continues.

9z

Despite the loss, 9z were not eliminated.

Instead, they dropped into the final qualification round (2-2), where they would receive one last opportunity to secure a playoff place.

FaZe

FaZe remain alive despite a difficult start to the tournament.

The victory over 3DMAX restores confidence and gives the roster another chance to reach playoffs through the final Swiss round.

3DMAX

The French team exits Guangzhou earlier than expected after failing to recover from consecutive losses.

Timeline

Stage	Event
Day 4 begins	Qualification and elimination matches start
Alliance vs 9z	Alliance win 2-0 and qualify for playoffs
FaZe vs 3DMAX	FaZe win 2-0
End of match	3DMAX eliminated
After day four	FaZe advance to 2-2 pool; 9z receive one final qualification chance

Key Details

Category	Information
Tournament	XSE Pro League Guangzhou 2026
Stage	Swiss Stage Day 4
Alliance result	Defeated 9z 2-0
FaZe result	Defeated 3DMAX 2-0
Alliance outcome	Qualified for playoffs
FaZe outcome	Advanced to final qualification round
9z outcome	Fell to 2-2 pool
3DMAX outcome	Eliminated

Tactical impact

Alliance's victory illustrates the value of disciplined team play in Swiss Stage matches, where preparation against a single opponent often proves decisive. While detailed tactical statistics from the series were not provided, beating a top-eight caliber opponent over a best-of-three suggests Alliance consistently won key mid-round situations and converted momentum across both maps rather than relying on isolated individual performances. 0

For FaZe, the clean victory indicates the roster successfully stabilized after its difficult opening matches. Avoiding a deciding third map also reduced fatigue heading into the crucial final qualification round.

Tournament impact

Day four significantly reshaped the playoff race.

Alliance became one of the latest teams to lock in a playoff berth.
FaZe remained alive after facing elimination.
3DMAX's campaign came to an end.
9z were forced into a high-pressure deciding match instead of qualifying directly.