This matchup pits two teams far apart in ranking but much closer in current form. Team Spirit, one of the most consistent rosters of 2025, will face Ninjas in Pyjamas, a reformed squad that has surprised many with their run and team cohesion.
Road to the Quarterfinal: Stability vs Breakthrough
Team Spirit:
- Opened the tournament with a 2–0 win over GamerLegion
- Defeated NiP 2–0 in Round 2
- Secured playoffs with a surprising 2–0 win against Astralis
Spirit continues to show disciplined CS, with well-rehearsed setups, strong mid control, and constant pressure from donk, the tournament’s top performer.
Ninjas in Pyjamas
- Began with a hard-fought 2–1 victory over Virtus.pro
- Lost 0–2 to Spirit
- Fell again to Aurora (1–2)
- Bounced back with a clean 2–0 against HOTU
- Secured playoffs after a dominant 2–0 win vs GamerLegion
This version of NiP is a fully rebuilt roster led by Snappi, with AWP prodigy r1nkle and explosive entry-fragger ewjerkz, who holds one of the tournament’s highest opening duel success rates.
Current Form: Firepower vs Progress
Team Spirit remains one of the most dangerous teams at the Major, maintaining one of the highest average ratings across all playoff teams. Their style blends flexible map approaches, structured positions, and the explosive presence of donk, who’s averaging a 1.60+ rating at this event.
sh1ro, who joined in 2024, has become the anchor for the AWP and a clutch specialist, while chopper balances donk’s aggression with structure, supported by the ever-consistent magixx.
NiP is still in development but already displays a high ceiling. Their playstyle is based on mechanical impact: r1nkle excels in AWP duels, ewjerkz consistently creates space, and Snappi brings cohesion. sjuush fills in crucial gaps and adds balance across the map.
Map Pool & Veto Predictions
Team Spirit:
- Strong maps: Dust2, Train, Anubis
- Weak map: Ancient
Ninjas in Pyjamas:
- Strong maps: Train, Inferno, Nuke
- Weak map: Mirage
Likely vetoes:
- NiP to remove Mirage
- Spirit to remove Ancient
- Possible maps: Dust2, Nuke, Anubis/Inferno
Dust2 is a comfort pick for Spirit, where they dominate mid with their AWP setups. Nuke could be NiP’s lifeline, as they have a solid CT-side here. If the series goes the distance, Anubis or Inferno could decide it in the final rounds.
Key Matchups
- donk vs r1nkle – two young stars with opposite styles. donk brings aggressive rifle entries, while r1nkle thrives in clutch AWP moments.
- sh1ro vs Snappi – the veteran AWPer against the cerebral IGL. Map control and late-round decisions may hinge on this duel.
- ewjerkz vs zont1x – the entries who break the ice. Whoever controls early engagements will shape the tempo of each map.
Expectations and Context
For Spirit, this is another step toward a potential Major final. They have the structure, synergy, and individual form to go deep. For NiP, reaching the playoffs with a new roster is already a success, but the hunger for more is real.
The community is eager to watch this clash of styles: donk vs r1nkle, structure vs intuition, chopper’s control vs Snappi’s adaptations.
Prediction
Spirit comes in with better structure, more experience, and stronger individual form. But NiP have shown that they can challenge favorites — if they take Nuke or stretch the series to Anubis, the upset is possible. It’s also a perfect opportunity for revenge after their earlier 0–2 loss.
Prediction: Team Spirit wins 2–1
This matchup is a test of maturity for Spirit and a chance for NiP to exceed expectations. Both teams have different strengths, but the winner will be the one who adapts better under pressure. Regardless of the outcome, the match promises to be tense and hard-fought.
