Not many organisations in the world of professional Counter-Strike can proudly say they had their own era, won a Major championship, reached the Grand Finals of the first five CS:GO Majors, and, quite frankly, became both a factory for and home to some of the most legendary players to ever touch Counter-Strike.
We could probably spend days talking about how legendary an organisation Ninjas in Pyjamas is in the context of CS:GO. Being the home of CS icons like Adam “friberg” Friberg, Richard “Xizt” Landström, Christopher “GeT_RiGhT” Alesund, Patrik “f0rest” Lindberg, and Robin “Fifflaren” Johansson, holding the undisputed #1 CS:GO win streak with 87 consecutive LAN map victories, and making the word “domination” sound like an insignificant and unworthy description of their own hegemony — NIP is one of the most respected names in the history of the game we all love.
However, amid a sea of roster changes, retired legends, past achievements, and unsatisfying results, a lot of time has passed since we last saw a lineup that could even dream of replicating the glorious results of the team’s previous legendary iterations. After missing the last three Majors (all CS2 Majors), NIP started to look like one of those names that would simply fail to stay near the top and compete at the highest level — with 20 different players wearing their jersey in just the past three years. But is it possible that we’re finally seeing some life being breathed into a seemingly lifeless project?
2025 has been a year of rebuilding and new beginnings for NIP. In this article, we’ll take a look at the pieces, potential, and vision that could bring one of the forgotten heroes of Counter-Strike back into the Top 10.
The right leadership
At the start of the season, alongside three other new players who joined NIP, the headquarters of the Swedish organisation welcomed Danish captain and ex-IGL of Falcons, ENCE, Heroic, OpTic, and more — Marco “Snappi” Pfeiffer. The 35-year-old, who earned a shot at leading one of Falcons’ many trophy-seeking rosters thanks to his heroics with ENCE, was definitely not at the peak of his career anymore.
After 12 long months with the Saudi team and very few results to be happy about, Snappi’s morale, confidence, and reputation were not exactly at an all-time high. But judging such an experienced veteran’s entire career and quality off the back of just one messy year didn’t feel fair. If anything, the fact that Snappi joined ENCE at age 31 and led them to four Majors — even reaching the Semi-Finals at PGL Antwerp 2022 and lifting the IEM Dallas trophy — is living proof of his relentless determination and ability to create something special out of nothing. Snappi has never been the type of IGL you hand all the stars and a blank cheque to. He’s something more valuable: a leader you can entrust with your team’s revival. Give him a couple of young players, some experience, and time — and he can take you far.
Never shying away from hard work, grinding through the lower tiers of competitive CS, and being a true leader — Snappi is one of those IGLs who knows what it takes to build a contender. His values of discipline, trust, and team structure play a massive role in that. Add to that his 12+ years of experience and his proven track record in developing players like dycha, SunPayus, NertZ, and Spinx into some of the best in their respective roles, and you understand why he was the one handed the reins at NIP.
A Strong Rifle Core
The start of the year was anything but flawless for NIP. The team had to use French rifler JACKZ instead of arrozdoce in five events, meaning they couldn’t get proper practice with their intended lineup. Still, that doesn’t change the fact that they had picked some incredibly solid pieces to build the team alongside Snappi.
Despite all the struggles and lack of VRS points, would you believe one of the highest-rated players on the team was the support element — the guy doing the dirty work nobody else wanted? Rasmus “sjuush” Beck. The 26-year-old Dane has never been one to steal the show, but he has always been one thing: reliable. A pillar in Heroic’s success under cadiaN and a consistent performer in their first international steps in 2024, sjuush has played six Majors and reached the playoffs in five, while lifting five Tier 1 trophies. He’s the perfect stability piece for a rebuilding NIP.
Though they couldn’t integrate arrozdoce into their system, NIP hit the jackpot with another Portuguese star from the same SAW lineup — Michel “ewjerkz” Pinto. The 24-year-old was the standout in SAW’s successful 2024 campaign, averaging a 1.13 rating with standout performances at ECL Katowice (1.17), ECL Atlanta (1.24), and IEM Cologne 2024. A generational Portuguese talent, skilled with both rifles and pistols, he’s versatile enough to take on both aggressive and passive roles.
And then there’s the latest addition: 18-year-old Kacper “xKacpersky” Gabara. A former Young Ninjas prodigy who spent six months at ENCE under gla1ve, the Polish rifler was re-signed by NIP at the start of the second 2025 season. He immediately impressed — with a 1.28 rating and standout games against 3DMAX (38–30, 1.41) and Heroic (50–44, 1.16). The months under gla1ve, despite ENCE’s underperformance, clearly helped prepare him for top-tier opposition. Under Snappi’s guidance, it feels like it’s only a matter of time before the explosive Pole becomes a household name.
No Team Is Complete Without an AWP & a Legendary Coach
The last 2 pieces of NIP are, probably, the most obvious and talked about, but The final two pieces of NIP’s puzzle are probably the most talked about — and perhaps the most underappreciated. Artem “r1nkle” Moroz, signed from B8 Esports in April 2024, came in with high expectations. And while NIP’s results didn’t always deliver, r1nkle did. Since joining, he’s averaged a 1.15 rating — including a 1.56 at Fragadelphia and a 1.21 at PGL Astana. He opened the new season strong, posting a 1.22 rating in IEM Cologne Stage 1 and currently sits at 1.23 in the Main Event.
There’s no need to dwell on his mechanical skill — it’s obvious. What sets r1nkle apart is something rare: blind belief in his own ability. Much like s1mple, he doesn’t crumble under pressure. He plays bravely, makes bold decisions, and acts with star-level confidence. He’s a difference-maker, someone who could one day lead a top team to championship glory — a backbone worth building around.
And finally, we have Xizt — one of the names this article began with. The man who stood tall 13 years ago when NIP dominated the world. At 34, his coaching career may not be the longest, but after three years with Heroic, four Major playoff appearances, and nearly two decades in the game as player and coach, he’s a man who understands CS through its many eras. Quiet, respected, intelligent, and persistent — Xizt is the kind of coach you build a long-term project with.
A Bright Future
After a chaotic transfer window, NIP enters the new season as one of the teams with the most hope and upside. It’s unclear whether they’ll make the playoffs at IEM Cologne or stay consistently competitive at the top, but convincing 2–0 wins over 3DMAX and Heroic (twice), along with a tight series against Aurora, give hope that their rebuild efforts won’t be in vain.
Ninjas in Pyjamas finally look like a team with direction — playing fast, structured, and entertaining Counter-Strike. With a strong IGL-coach duo, a world-class support player, a promising AWP prospect, and two highly skilled rifles, it’s hard not to be cautiously optimistic. Whether this is the start of something special or just another fleeting moment of hope remains to be seen — but for the first time in years, believing in the former doesn’t feel like supporting flat Earth theory.
