The IEM Cologne 2025 Main Stage is heating up, and the match between Aurora and Ninjas in Pyjamas has already become one of the key storylines. The Turkish squad, which has transformed into a regional powerhouse over the past year, will face the revamped NiP lineup aiming to prove they can bring the brand back to the CS2 elite.
Team Lineups
Aurora:
- jottAAA
- MAJ3R (IGL)
- xfloud
- Wicadia
- woxic
Ninjas in Pyjamas:
- xKapersky
- Snappi (IGL)
- sjusuh
- r1nkle
- ewjerkz
Aurora continues to refine their tactical philosophy under the leadership of MAJ3R, blending the experience of woxic with the youthful explosiveness of Wicadia. NiP, on the other hand, features a fresh core and the guiding voice of Snappi, while r1nkle has emerged as the undeniable star, consistently delivering key rounds.
Head-to-head: PGL Major Astana 2025
These teams have already crossed paths on a big stage. Back at PGL Major Astana 2025, the clash turned into a true battle of styles. Aurora came out on top with a 2–1 series win, but every map was contested to the last breath:
- Anubis — Aurora 13:10 NiP (Aurora opened the series confidently, exploiting NiP’s weak spots)
- Train — NiP 13:9 Aurora (NiP adapted quickly, equalizing thanks to decisive plays from Snappi and r1nkle)
- Inferno — Aurora 13:8 NiP (woxic and Wicadia tore apart NiP’s defense to close the series)
That match showed that Aurora can impose their tempo even against European opposition, but NiP proved they’re capable of flipping momentum and clawing back maps when needed.
Current Team Form
Aurora enters IEM Cologne 2025 in mixed form. In their last five matches, they secured just one win (a 13–5 stomp over FaZe on Anubis) while suffering four losses. Defeats to G2 (4–13 on Inferno), MOUZ (1–2), and The MongolZ (0–2) exposed lapses in focus against top-tier competition. However, the recent addition of xfloud (1.17 rating) has brought consistency to their play, and woxic remains the key clutch player when rounds hang in the balance.
Ninjas in Pyjamas look steadier: three wins in their last five, including convincing victories over 3DMAX (2–0), BIG (2–0), and Heroic (2–1). Losses to fnatic (1–2) and NAVI Junior (1–2) served as reminders that NiP are still building chemistry with the new roster. But r1nkle (1.30 rating) is in peak form, and Snappi is effectively dictating the team’s structure and tempo.
Map Pool & Potential Veto
Map stats (last 3 months):
- Dust2: Aurora — 62% | NiP — 50%
- Mirage: Aurora — 62% | NiP — 0%
- Inferno: Aurora — 62% | NiP — 57%
- Nuke: Aurora — 67% | NiP — 86%
- Train: Aurora — 0% | NiP — 55%
- Overpass: Neither team plays it
- Ancient: Aurora — 0% | NiP — 62%
Expected veto:
- Aurora will almost certainly ban Train — they don’t play it, while NiP are comfortable there.
- NiP will likely remove Mirage, denying Aurora one of their strongest picks.
Picks:
- Aurora are likely to lean on Inferno or Anubis — maps where they’ve already shown strength, especially in previous meetings with NiP.
- NiP will almost certainly go for Nuke (86%) — their crown jewel map.
Decider: Ancient feels like the most probable third map. Aurora haven’t played it much, but NiP’s 62% win rate gives them a slight edge — though the uncertainty could make it a wild card.
Key Duels
- r1nkle vs woxic — The AWP battle that could decide who controls the map flow.
- xfloud vs sjusuh — A fight for mid-control and early-round openings.
- Snappi vs MAJ3R — The tactical duel of veteran IGLs, where experience meets experience.
Prediction
Aurora come in as slight favorites on paper after their PGL Major Astana win, but NiP now look far more balanced with their refreshed roster. If NiP can lock in Nuke and avoid Mirage, they have a very real chance to reverse the narrative.
Predicted score: 2–1 for NiP.
Aurora will be dangerous on their own map picks, but Snappi’s structure and r1nkle’s form could be the decisive factors pushing the Europeans over the line.
