9z Team secured a spot in the semifinals of the IEM Cologne Major 2026 on Thursday, knocking out FURIA with a 13-8 win on the map Dust2 in the quarterfinal round.
The quarterfinal matchup
The best-of-one series was played on Dust2, a map that's been a staple of competitive Counter-Strike for years. 9z Team took the win with a five-round margin. The match marks the end of FURIA's run at the major.
What the win means
With the victory, 9z Team advances to the semifinal stage of the tournament. Their next opponent will be determined by the results of the remaining quarterfinal matches. The team now waits to see who they'll face in the next round.
FURIA's exit
For FURIA, the loss eliminates them from the Major. The quarterfinal defeat closes out their campaign at IEM Cologne 2026.
The semifinal schedule has not yet been announced, but 9z Team will know their opponent once the other quarterfinal match concludes.
