Ninja in Pyjamas Qualify for Counter-Strike Major After Two Years
After their loss to OpTic Gaming in the semifinals of the Europe Minor, many fans doubted whether Ninja in Pyjamas (NiP) would be able to secure a spot in the upcoming Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Major. However, the Swedish team proved their resilience and managed to qualify for the Major for the first time in two years.
In the past two years, NiP missed out on the PGL Krakow Major, ELEAGUE Atlanta Major, and ELEAGUE Boston Major. Their last appearance in a Valve Major was at ESL One Cologne in 2016, which did not go well for them due to roster issues.
Despite their setbacks, NiP never stopped fighting for a spot on the world’s biggest stage. They made necessary changes to their roster and roles, which allowed them to overcome their opponents in the Europe Minor and secure a place in the Major once again.
NiP finished second in Group B, with a 2-1 record, after competing against Sprout, Team Kinguin, and Red Reserve. This placement advanced them to the bracket play, where they faced the Danish team, OpTic Gaming.
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Although NiP put up a strong fight in a 34-round game, OpTic ultimately defeated them on Inferno, sending NiP to the losers bracket. Another loss would have resulted in the team being eliminated from the Major qualification.
In the losers bracket match against Sprout, NiP emerged victorious and advanced in the tournament. This win brought them one step closer to qualifying for the Major.
NiP’s final challenge came in a match against ENCE Esports. Despite ENCE’s talent and potential, NiP, fueled by their win against Sprout, dominated the 28-round Overpass map. The second game, Inferno, ended in a 16-2 victory for NiP, securing their spot in the Major after years of absence.
NiP will join OpTic Gaming as the representatives from Europe Minor in the FACEIT London Major’s New Challengers Stage, where they will face formidable opponents like Astralis, Team Liquid, and Virtus Pro. The tournament begins on September 5th.
Counter-Strike Major, Ninja in Pyjamas, NiP, Europe Minor, OpTic Gaming, Valve Major qualification, roster issues, Sprout, ENCE Esports, FACEIT London Major
