Two of the most recognizable names in competitive Counter-Strike avoided early exits from the XSE Pro League Guangzhou 2026 on July 3, with FaZe Clan and Ninjas in Pyjamas each picking up must-win matches to keep their tournament lives intact. The victories moved both squads to 1-2 records in the Swiss group stage, buying them at least one more chance to advance in a $1 million event that has been as notable for its technical disasters as its gameplay.
FaZe handled SINNERS with a clean 2-0, while NIP battled Luminosity Gaming to reach the same 1-2 standing.
What happened on day three
FaZe entered the day in rough shape. A 6-13 loss to MIBR had followed an earlier defeat to TYLOO, leaving the roster staring down a 0-2 hole where one more loss meant packing bags for the airport.
NIP’s path was similarly uncomfortable. A narrow 14-16 loss to 3DMAX had put the organization in the same precarious position. Their best-of-three against Luminosity proved enough to reset the ledger to 1-2.
