9z crush paiN 13-3 in Paris

9z began the Counter-Strike 2 competition at the Esports World Cup 2026 the way every team dreams of: with authority, a wide scoreline and flawless reading of the game. In Paris, the Argentine side ran over paiN on Cache, winning 13-3 in their Group D opener and putting themselves in a strong position in the upper bracket.

Dominant from the first round

The match, played in the first round of the upper bracket in a best-of-one, was lopsided almost from start to finish. The South American line-up opened up an early lead, controlled the map’s space and went into the side switch ahead 10-2. After the break, they needed only three more rounds to close it out.

More than the scoreline, what stood out was how 9z built the win. The defence clicked, the individual duels were almost always in their favour and paiN rarely managed to impose a rhythm. In best-of-one matches, a strong start usually dictates everything. That is exactly what happened.

HUASOPEEK leads, luchov follows

Among the standouts, HUASOPEEK was the most impactful name on the server. He finished the map with 19 kills, only four deaths and a 2.20 rating, numbers that help explain why paiN never found a way back. luchov also showed up very well, with 19 eliminations and eight deaths, sustaining the pressure at key moments.

When two players close out a map with that volume and that efficiency, the rest of the structure comes alive. 9z accelerated when they needed to, but also knew how to cool the game down and punish mistakes. It was a mature performance, especially valuable at an international tournament with 32 teams and minimal margin for slips.

Next test: FURIA, with a playoff route at stake

With the result, the Argentine organisation advanced to the upper bracket semi-final of Group D, where they face FURIA in a best-of-three. The change of format matters: the short shot of a best-of-one gives way to a deeper contest, one that tends to reward squad depth, adaptation and tactical range.

The tie is worth a lot. The winner is one step from the playoffs; the loser drops to the lower bracket and starts playing under pressure. For 9z, the match also works as a real thermometer of their competitive ceiling in Paris. After such a clean start against paiN, beating FURIA would confirm that the Argentine team did not just do well on debut. They came to fight.