One of the opening matches of the IEM Cologne 2025 main stage saw Aurora face off against Ninjas in Pyjamas in a tense best-of-three. Despite coming close to forcing a decider, NiP fell short in overtime on Train, as Aurora closed out the series 2-0.
Two Tight Maps, One Clear Winner
This was the second meeting between the two teams in 2025. Their previous clash took place at PGL Astana, where Aurora also came out on top — although back then, NiP managed to win Train 13:9. This time, things played out differently.
The match kicked off on Dust2, Aurora’s map pick. NiP had a strong start, taking the first half 8:4. But after the switch, Aurora’s defense stepped up significantly, and NiP managed to win just three rounds in the second half. The map ended 13:11 in favor of Aurora.
The second map, Train, followed a similar pattern. Aurora again took an 8:4 lead in the first half, but NiP responded well. sjuush stood out as the key figure in pushing the game to overtime. However, even in the extra rounds, Aurora’s defense held firm, and they secured the map 19:15, closing the series 2-0.
Players of the Match
woxic and Wicadia were the standout performers for Aurora. woxic led the scoreboard with 53 kills across the two maps and finished with a rating of 1.46, while Wicadia recorded the highest average damage per round — 92.7. Both players were instrumental in securing the win.
Confident Start for Aurora, Work Ahead for NiP
Aurora showed composure and confidence, starting their main stage campaign with a crucial victory. On Monday, they will face the winner of the Spirit vs HEROIC matchup — a major test for the Turkish lineup.
As for NiP, their tournament hopes are still alive. After an impressive run in the Play-In stage, they’ll move to the lower bracket with a chance to bounce back. The team is currently playing with ENCE’s Kacper “xKacpersky” Gabara on loan, who posted a 1.03 rating in this match. There’s still time for NiP to prove they can deliver solid CS despite the temporary roster change.
