Having defeated the Brazilian paiN with a score of 2 – 9 in the sixth place match at Americas RMR, Team 9z secured their place at the Major. The day before she won 2 – 1 from Evil Geniuses, thus depriving competitors of the chance to get to PGL Major Antwerp.
The start of the tournament was not very successful for 9z. After the South American team suffered two defeats at the start – from MIBR and Evil Geniuses, elimination from the tournament became a very real prospect for her. To maintain their chances of making it to the major, 9z needed to win three games in a row, and they succeeded.
9z won in the best-of-3 format consecutively against Bad News Bears, 00NATION and Sao Caetano, and then took revenge, finishing a new meeting with Evil Geniuses in her favor. Thus, the question of who would ultimately go to the major was decided in the match against paiN. 9z was able to gain and maintain the lead on the first map (Mirage), winning it with a score of 16 – 11. At Dust2, paiN looked more convincing and was able to take the lead for a while. However, by the time the sides changed, 9z had reduced the gap to a minimum (7 - 8). The strengths of the teams remained approximately equal, and overtime was needed to decide the fate of the match. 9z won the card with a score of 19 – 17, thus securing a ticket to Belgium.
