Aurora Gaming vs 9z Team Tips – Two Feisty Underdogs Clash in IEM Cologne Major Round 4
Aurora Gaming and 9z Team will clash in the IEM Cologne Major 2026 fourth round. Both teams are in spectacular form—the Turkish side Aurora crushed G2 Esports and boasts a deep map pool, while 9z stunned with an upset over Team Vitality and nearly toppled Team Spirit. With no clear favorite and both teams performing above expectations, this evenly matched encounter is likely to go the distance. The recommended bet is 'Over 2.5 Maps', given the competitive quality of both squads.
- Aurora Gaming vs 9z Team Counter-Strike 2 betting preview and picks for Sunday, June 14, in the fourth round of IEM Cologne Major 2026 Stage 3 (16:30 CEST)
- 9z Team have been holding on relatively well
- Both teams have tools to succeed in this stage
Aurora Gaming vs 9z Team Betting Predictions
Aurora Gaming and 9z Team will face off on Sunday, June 14, in the fourth round of Intel Extreme Masters Cologne Major 2026, when the two teams will battle it out for a spot in the playoffs.
- Aurora Gaming vs 9z Team Betting Predictions
- First Clash of 2026
- Where to Watch Aurora Gaming vs 9z Team Live?
- Aurora Gaming Are In Great Shape
- Aurora Gaming Squad & Team News
- 9z Team Can’t Be Underestimated
- 9z Team Squad & Team News
Both squads have exceeded expectations this event, showing very promising results, especially in the third stage of the tournament.
Notably, 9z Team have upset Team Vitality, and they put up an impressive fight against Team Spirit. Meanwhile, Aurora Gaming handled G2 and Monte with ease and also showed strong resistance against the world’s hottest team, Spirit.
This promises to be an exciting affair between two high-flying outsiders, who are bound to produce a competitive game and offer CS2 fans a real treat.
- Both teams have been showing up
- There is no clear favourite
- 9z Team and Aurora have yet to meet this season
First Clash of 2026
Aurora Gaming and 9z Team have yet to meet this season.
Where to Watch Aurora Gaming vs 9z Team Live?
Esports fans can watch the match between Aurora Gaming and 9z Team on any esports streaming site, via official ESL channels. Alternatively, you can set up an account with prominent bookmakers like Stake and access free live streaming and in-play betting options.
- Visit Stake
- Log in or register a new account with Stake code NEWBONUS
- Open the CS2 tab and IEM Cologne Major markets
- Watch the live streams and place in-play bets
Aurora Gaming Are In Great Shape
Aurora Gaming haven’t had the most exciting run before the Major, struggling to leave a lasting mark in the bigger events attended. However, they have not disappointed with their performances in Cologne so far.
The Turkish squad kicked off the Major with a 2-0 sweep of Monte, then played a relatively competitive game against Team Spirit (1-2), and in the last round, Aurora swept G2 Esports.
With that, XANTARES and co. are just one win away from booking a spot in the playoffs, and they do not have an impossible task ahead to accomplish just that.
A lot of Aurora’s success in this event is due to their firepower, which is good enough to challenge any team. Wicadia in particular has been great, posting a 1.25 performance rating over the seven maps played and 1.55 in Aurora’s recent win over G2 Esports.
It also helps that Aurora have a solid map pool, boasting a 50% or higher win rate on Dust II, Mirage, Inferno, Overpass, and Anubis. In the context of this match, this gives them a higher win rate on four maps – Dust II, Mirage, Inferno, and Anubis.
| Date | Event | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 13 | IEM Cologne major 2026 | G2 Esports | 2-0 (W) |
| June 12 | IEM Cologne major 2026 | Team Spirit | 1-2 (L) |
| June 11 | IEM Cologne major 2026 | Monte | 2-0 (W) |
| May 15 | PGL Astana 2026 | MOUZ | 0-2 (L) |
| May 13 | PGL Astana 2026 | The MongolZ | 2-0 (W |
Aurora Gaming Squad & Team News
No roster changes for Aurora Gaming.
- İsmailсan "XANTARES" Dörtkardeş
- Engin "MAJ3R" Küpeli
- Ali "Wicadia" Haydar Yalçın
- Özgür "woxic" Eker
- Caner "soulfly" Kesici
9z Team Can’t Be Underestimated
9z Team, much like Aurora, have exceeded expectations in Cologne. After making it through Stage 2 with a relatively promising record, 9z Team turned many heads by going 2-1 over the first three rounds of Stage 3.
They defeated PARIVISION (2-1) in the first game and added a massive 2-1 upset over Team Vitality. While 9z failed to complete a 3-0 run, they still showed up in the last outing, when they pushed Team Spirit to their limits.
9z defeated Spirit on Overpass 16-12, and came very close to sweeping the Russian outfit. However, they ran out of steam and got reverse-swept with overtime defeats on Mirage 13-16 and 14-16 on Dust II.
While 9z appeared relatively unproven ahead of Stage 3 of IEM Cologne Major, their performances against Team Vitality and Team Spirit are very good indications that the South American squad can punch up.
| Date | Event | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 13 | IEM Cologne Major 2026 | Team Spirit | 1-2 (L) |
| June 12 | IEM Cologne Major 2026 | Team Vitality | 2-1 (W) |
| June 11 | IEM Cologne Major 2026 | PARIVISION | 2-1 (W) |
| June 8 | IEM Cologne Major 2026 | TYLOO | 2-0 (W) |
| June 7 | IEM Cologne Major 2026 | Team Spirit | 0-2 (L) |
9z Team Squad & Team News
9z Team have made no roster changes to their roster.
- Maximiliano "max" Gonzalez
- Matias "HUASOPEEK" Ibañez
- Luciano "luchov" Herrera
- Ignacio "meyern" Meyer
- Franco "dgt" Garcia
Verdict
This is a match between two teams who have been playing far better than expected. 9z Team, in particular, have turned many heads with their showings, having upset Team Vitality and coming just a couple of rounds short of beating Team Spirit.
While Aurora Gaming have had a slightly easier schedule, they crushed G2 Esports in the previous round, which is a solid indication that the Turks are in strong form and more than ready to take on anyone.
This fixture has strong potential to extend to map three, as there is little to separate the two teams in terms of quality and form. Meanwhile, the map pool suggests each will get to play on at least one favourable map.
While Aurora Gaming have had a slightly easier schedule, they crushed G2 Esports in the previous round, which is a solid indication that the Turks are in strong form and more than ready to take on anyone.
This fixture has strong potential to extend to map three, as there is little to separate the two teams in terms of quality and form. Meanwhile, the map pool suggests each will get to play on at least one favourable map.
Over 2.5 Maps
Over/Under
@5/6 - 3 Units
£30 Free Bet
Use promo code NEWBONUS
Claim £30 free bet & 20 Free Spins. Use the promo code NEWBONUS. New Hollywoodbets account holders. 18 years or older. United Kingdom residents only. T&Cs apply.
Related
Top Betting Sites
Betting offers
Upcoming Events
28 May 2026
- CDL 2026 Stage 4 Major Qualifiers -
- Esports
06 June 2026
- VALORANT Masters London 2026 -
- Esports
10 June 2026
- Volleyball Nations League 2026 -
- Volleyball
Load More
Aurora Gaming v 9z Team
Today's Acca Tips
-
Soccer tips
-
Horse Racing tips
