Spirit eliminate 9z to stay alive at BLAST Open Rotterdam 2026, set up decider vs The MongolZ

Team Spirit secured a crucial 2-0 victory over 9z in the BLAST Open Rotterdam 2026 Group B lower bracket, keeping their playoff hopes alive and eliminating the South American squad from the tournament.

The Russian side showed full control throughout the series, winning Overpass (13-6) and Dust2 (13-6) to move one step closer to the playoffs. The result sets up a decisive lower-bracket clash against The MongolZ, with a quarter-final spot on the line.

donk and sh1ro lead a one-sided Overpass

Spirit came out firing on Overpass, delivering one of the most dominant halves of the event.
Led by Danil “donk” Kryshkovets and Dmitry “sh1ro” Sokolov, Spirit stormed to a 12-0 CT-side lead, leaving 9z with virtually no room to respond.

The duo’s impact was overwhelming, combining for double-digit multikill rounds and shutting down every attempt from 9z to gain map control. Although 9z managed to recover a few rounds late, the outcome was never in doubt as Spirit closed the map 13-6.

magixx clutch swings Dust2 in Spirit’s favor

Dust2 started more competitively, with 9z briefly matching Spirit’s early momentum after a 3-0 opening. However, a key clutch from Boris “magixx” Vorobiev shifted control back to Spirit at a crucial moment.

From there, Spirit built an 8-4 halftime lead and carried that advantage into the second half by converting the CT pistol.

Despite a standout quad kill from Matias “HUASOPEEK” Ibañez Hernandez, 9z failed to mount a comeback as Spirit once again closed the map 13-6 to seal the series.

A needed response after PARIVISION loss

The victory comes as a vital recovery for Spirit after their earlier loss to PARIVISION, which dropped them into the lower bracket. That defeat forced Spirit into a must-win path, requiring back-to-back victories to reach the playoffs.

Before that setback, Spirit had opened their campaign with a strong 2-0 win over Liquid, where donk posted a dominant performance and showcased why he remains one of the most impactful players in CS2.

9z’s Cinderella run ends after MOUZ upset

For 9z, the loss marks the end of a short but impressive lower-bracket run. The team had previously stunned MOUZ with a 2-1 victory, one of the biggest upsets of the group stage.

That win briefly positioned 9z as a dark horse in Rotterdam, but they were unable to carry that momentum against a disciplined and in-form Spirit lineup.

Decider match vs The MongolZ awaits

Spirit will now face The MongolZ in the Group B lower-bracket final, with a playoff spot at stake.

The MongolZ enter the matchup after eliminating Liquid, continuing their consistent rise in international CS2 competition. Notably, Liquid struggled heavily in pistol rounds during that series, a factor that contributed to their early exit.

Spirit still believe they can go deep

Heading into the tournament, magixx made it clear that Spirit still have ambitions to compete at the highest level:

“I feel we still have something to play with and we are still not washed up… we just need to get our game together.”

That mindset was echoed by donk in previous interviews, where he emphasized a shift toward a more team-focused approach:

“Now I’m thinking about winning the game as a team, not as a star player.”

Their performance against 9z reflected exactly that balance — star power combined with structured team play.

What’s next?

With momentum back on their side, Spirit are now just one series away from securing a playoff spot at BLAST Open Rotterdam 2026. However, The MongolZ present a serious challenge, making the upcoming match one of the most decisive clashes of the group stage.