TL;DR
- South American underdogs 9z Team eliminated tournament favorites Vitality in a stunning 2-1 upset
- 16-year-old Santino ‘try’ Rigal delivered clutch performances to secure the series victory
- Vitality’s defensive collapses and inability to close out games revealed deeper team issues
- The loss likely marks the end of RpK’s tenure with Vitality amid ongoing roster changes
- 9z advances to face Heroic while demonstrating the growing competitiveness of South American CS:GO
In a stunning BLAST Premier Showdown opening round, the relatively unknown 9z Team delivered a massive upset by eliminating tournament favorites Team Vitality. This match appears to mark the final competitive appearance for Cédric “RpK” Guipouy with the French organization, adding emotional weight to the unexpected outcome.
Hailing from South America and qualifying through regional pathways, 9z entered the series as significant underdogs with odds heavily stacked against them. Compounding their challenges, the squad was compelled to compete with substitute player Rajohn “easTor” Linato, creating additional roster instability that typically disadvantages teams in high-stakes matches.
Vitality initially demonstrated control during the opening map, comfortably securing victory on 9z’s own Nuke selection. Team captain Dan “apEX” Madesclaire led by example, finishing as the top performer statistically when the first map concluded.
4 SHOTS, 4 KILLS FOR
@tryzinn
WITH THE AWP!16 years old! ???? What an incredible talent.#BLASTPremier
pic.twitter.com/yho0OogUDg— BLAST Premier Spring ShowUPSETS ???? (@BLASTPremier)
April 15, 2021
Transitioning to the second map, Vitality appeared positioned to secure a straightforward 2-0 series sweep. 9z had demonstrated limited recent experience on Overpass, and even against less formidable regional opponents maintained only a 25% success rate, suggesting significant disadvantage.
The initial half unfolded predictably, with 9z establishing a modest advantage while playing their preferred Counter-Terrorist side, reaching the midway point with 9 rounds secured.
However, Vitality failed to convert their experience advantage into a series-clinching performance as their defensive coordination deteriorated. 9z capitalized on this vulnerability, extending their lead to claim an unexpected map victory. Forcing a decisive third map already constituted a surprise, but 9z would exceed even those elevated expectations.
LOOK AT THIS ENERGY AND PASSION ????????????
Congrats on the victory,
@9zTeam!
#BLASTPremier
pic.twitter.com/9KpYWi5oTV— BLAST Premier Spring ShowUPSETS ???? (@BLASTPremier)
April 15, 2021
9z launched the final map with overwhelming intensity, completely dismantling Vitality’s setups to secure an astonishing 9-0 opening lead. The French squad appeared visibly shaken and tactically disorganized before eventually regrouping to stabilize their performance.
What seemed like the beginning of a remarkable comeback saw Vitality progressively narrow the deficit. At 13-10, they had strung together eight consecutive round wins and established economic control. Yet through extraordinary individual plays from Santino “try” Rigal, 9z accomplished the improbable and secured the map victory.
This elimination removes Vitality from BLAST Premier Spring Showdown contention, while 9z earns the opportunity to extend their Cinderella run against Heroic in the subsequent round. The upset highlights the increasing global parity in competitive Counter-Strike, where preparation and momentum can overcome reputation and experience advantages.
This defeat represents a crushing setback for Vitality and potentially concludes RpK’s tenure with the organization on a disappointing note. The team has experienced premature exits across multiple recent tournaments, and while consistently facing elite competition provides some context, losing to a little-known 9z lineup indicates fundamental organizational challenges.
Vitality’s planned roster transition from RpK to Jason “Kyojin” Nguyen moves forward, though questions remain whether this change alone can restore the squad to championship form. For teams experiencing similar struggles, reviewing fundamental strategies in our Complete Guide can provide valuable insights into rebuilding competitive effectiveness.
The victory demonstrates how proper team composition and role allocation, similar to principles discussed in our Class Guide, can overcome individual talent. Additionally, understanding how to maximize player potential, as outlined in our Weapons Unlock strategies, proves crucial in modern competitive gaming.
Action Checklist
- Analyze map veto patterns to identify team strengths and weaknesses
- Review economic decision-making in crucial rounds to improve in-game resource management
- Study underdog team strategies for adapting to higher-level competition
- Evaluate roster stability impact on team performance across multiple tournaments
No reproduction without permission：Game Guides Online » Unknown 9Z Team eliminates Vitality from BLAST Premier Showdown South American underdogs 9z Team stun Vitality in BLAST Premier Showdown upset victory