9z has arrived in Finland to participate in the Elisa Masters Espoo 2024 with a clear sense of dissatisfaction following a streak of failures. A successful start to the first half of the year was followed by a series of disappointing results, including eliminations from tournaments like the ESL Pro League and IEM Rio.

In their first match of the tournament, 9z suffered a 6-13 defeat to ENCE, but the team still has a chance to advance to the playoffs. In the decisive match, they are set to meet ENCE led by Lukas "⁠gla1ve⁠" Rossander, adding additional intrigue to this encounter.

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"I didn't expect such a loss"

9z players do not hide their disappointment. In an interview with HLTV, team player Antonio "Martinez" Martinez admitted that the result was unexpected for him: "I knew they could be a tough opponent, but we practiced very hard and believed we could win, or at least not lose by such a devastating score". The team is working hard on the mental aspect of the game after the break, as this is now the main issue, not individual player errors.

Struggle for confidence

The current losing streak is severely affecting the team’s morale. He adds: "We play a lot, work hard, and spend a ton of time preparing, but the results just don’t match our work in practice". Martinez noted that losses inevitably affect self-confidence: "When you win and reach finals, you just gain that confidence. Even if you’re not thinking about it specifically, it still affects you".

Decisive match and the importance of the tournament

Ahead of 9z is a decisive match against ENCE for a spot in the playoffs, and the team intends to do everything possible to turn the tournament in their favor. This tournament is important not only in itself but also as the last opportunity to gain confidence before the upcoming RMR tournament in China, which will be crucial for their qualification for the Major. "We will continue to work and try to gain some confidence along the way, so we arrive in China ready for battle", added Martinez.

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Path to recovery and confidence

Elisa Masters Espoo 2024 is the last chance for 9z to perform at a LAN tournament before the crucial stage of the season. Success in Finland can be a decisive factor in preparing for future competitions. The team maintains fighting spirit and believes they can find a way to victory. "We started last season with a failure, but ultimately we were able to improve our game and achieve results. I hope it will be the same now", concluded Martinez.

Source: HLTV