Official: MartinezSa joins 9z

4-12-2023 23:30

The Spanish AWPer completes 9z's roster ahead of the winter break.

Martinez has left the Spanish scene

9z have completed the signing of Antonio "⁠MartinezSa⁠" Martinez from Movistar Riders. The 22-year-old takes over the AWPing role from Santino "⁠try⁠" Rigal, who stepped down from their active roster in October due to health reasons.

The Spaniard has represented Movistar Riders since August 2022, when he made the jump up from VELOX. Despite the commendable numbers put up by their new sniper, the Spanish team struggled to recover from the loss of Álvaro "⁠SunPayus⁠" García and failed to reach their previous heights.

MartinezSa averaged a 1.09 rating during his tenure and shone in Movistar Riders' only international title during 2023 at ESL Challenger Melbourne, where he finished as the second-highest-rated player with a 1.23 rating.

The move completes 9z's roster ahead of the 2024 season after they lost David "⁠dav1deuS⁠" Tapia Maldonado and try in October. The Argentinian organization quickly promoted Matias "⁠HUASOPEEK⁠" Ibañez Hernandez to the main roster to fill one spot but needed longer to acquire an AWPer after negotiations for Lucas "⁠nqz⁠" Soares fell through.

9z are now:

Maximiliano "⁠max⁠" Gonzalez
Franco "⁠dgt⁠" Garcia
Nicolás "⁠buda⁠" Kramer
Matias "⁠HUASOPEEK⁠" Ibañez Hernandez
Antonio "⁠MartinezSa⁠" Martinez

Gustavo "⁠tge⁠" Motta (coach)

Santino "⁠try⁠" Rigal (inactive)

Decent addition but not better than David

2023-12-04 23:30

7 replies

2023-12-04 23:38

ofc he isnt a better rifler than david but hes actually an awper

2023-12-04 23:47

He's subbing try

2023-12-05 00:43

david isnt an awp bro?

2023-12-05 01:24

Hausopeek is the replacement for Dav1deus... Martinez is the replacement for try...

2023-12-05 01:31

2 replies

huasopeek is pretty damn good tho

2023-12-05 16:57

1 reply

1.0 warrior?

2023-12-06 02:12

why try on the bench????

2023-12-04 23:31

3 replies

medical leave. He had health issues and had to step down. Probably wont be back until next year but on a different team.

2023-12-04 23:32

He has very unfortunetly career. Dominate for 9z at beggining then move to overrated ass team 00nation then back to 9z and not playing for a long time

2023-12-04 23:33

Darn, hope he returns soon.

2023-12-05 00:20

Good luck!

Pog

MR is better, sad 4 him

9 replies

Movistar is better as a team but 9z bring him way more things. Fan base, higher salary, easier qualys for major, etc.

2023-12-04 23:48

I dont know about better salary... remember that 9z is an Argentinian org. We have a shit economy here...

2023-12-05 14:23

Movistar is a bigger company but their budget for esports is low. 9z spends all their money in esports. Could be fake but zack (martinez friend) said on stream that he is getting x4 salary compare to before.

2023-12-05 14:53

nah, he would have more opportunities to be at events and an easier time qualifying for majors.

2023-12-04 23:57

Movistar played more tier 1 events last year (being one of their worst years) than 9z in his whole history. Not hating thats a fact. But yes, They are most likely to qualify to majors than mvr.

2023-12-05 02:33

Yeah its a shame, also now spanish scene is dead and movistar is almost dead.

2023-12-05 05:50

wolfangkillers is the only savior

2023-12-05 06:56

In wolfgang and Tense we trust, desperate times needs desperate measures

2023-12-05 08:47

2023-12-05 16:01

HYPEHYPEHYPE

2023-12-04 23:34

Gl martinez

2023-12-04 23:35

lol downgraded

Can't believe 9z signed a former inmate and convict... Shame

6 replies

People need to stop with that joke, isn't funny anymore.

2023-12-04 23:44

5 replies

Searched the context for the joke and can't tell how much truth there is in the meme, like is it even a 'meme'. Especially on the forum thread 'MartinezSa'

2023-12-05 00:27

4 replies

Where can i read it?

2023-12-05 00:52

If you search up "hltv MartinezSa 16 year old prison" the main one I referenced from March 2023 will pop up. Also some other ones are "hltv forum MarintezSa" with two at the top from August 2023 and September 2022 having some as well. Hope that helps )

2023-12-05 03:16

It's a joke from spanish casters because of his neck tattoo, that's how started.

2023-12-05 08:48

Ty for info

2023-12-05 09:03

downgraded

2023-12-04 23:36

Worst team but ez stickers, GL!

2023-12-04 23:37

I don't understand this signing, spaniard in SA, lol

10 replies

9z are moving to Spain

2023-12-04 23:40

oh nice, didn't knew that

2023-12-05 00:11

9z's relocating to Spain in 2024.

2023-12-04 23:41

More and more of the americas going to europe it seems

2023-12-05 00:21

well, only those from South America to be exact. MIBR's living in Portugal I believe, 9z soon to Spain, and FURIA's living in Malta. And coldzera's band of disappointments are also living in Portugal I believe.

2023-12-05 00:22

Would Liquid's bootcamp in the netherlands count

somewhat I guess since Liquid is dutch in origin.

2023-12-05 00:23

mibr are in portugal since september legacy is not. only coldzera. he lives here since the end of 2021

2023-12-05 02:50

Same language

2023-12-04 23:45

It's in his name MartinezSA not MartinezEU

2023-12-05 08:49

Amazing! A lot of trust in Martinez.

sadge

Would be nice to see Martinez pwning his ex-team mates when 9z move to Spain.

Why Buda is on the Team

2023-12-04 23:46

if they also made +adamS -buda the roster would be top material

2023-12-04 23:50

or -buda + tomaszin or -buda +luchov

2023-12-05 01:37

I ask myself that everyday

This days all of this nobodies make hltv articles Hahhaaahahahhahha

2 top 30 teams involved (one of them made to top 5) The player we are talking about played 2 EPL playoffs and won 1 Esl Challanger. No a "nobodie".

2023-12-04 23:52

9z is not a nobody and neither is Martinez.

??????? Lol

2023-12-05 01:59

poaching of the spanish awping scene continues, RIP

2023-12-04 23:56

We are so dead now. Sooo sad

2023-12-05 05:51

-1 RMR spot for Brazil GL

2023-12-05 00:08

ADOLFO MARTINEZ SAA GODETO

2023-12-05 00:09

Cuidadlo bien

goodluck Martinez, te queremos 9z cuidarle bien <3

F for Riders

2023-12-05 00:38

VAMOS 9Z!!!!.

2023-12-05 00:50

Great move by both 9z and Martinez. Can't wait to watch this roster play!

2023-12-05 01:25

pog

2023-12-05 01:27

can actually become a top 30 team

2023-12-05 02:20

9ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

2023-12-05 02:59

9z moving to EU?

2023-12-05 03:19

It's been rumored for a while, and with the addition of Martinez I would assume that the rumors are true. It'd get them experience in the wider EU T2 scene as well, so it makes sense.

2023-12-05 04:08