NIP qualify for PGL Astana
The Ninjas in Pyjamas are finally back at a big event.
Luckily for them, it’s not in the UK. Partially because then they’d have to go to the UK, but also because they wouldn’t be able to use any weapons there.
Topical bantz.
Despite basically starting from nothing, Valve Ranking-wise, NIP have finally managed to get through a qualifier, and all it took was beating Passion UA, fnatic and B8 in a BO3, before beating four of their ex-players in a BO5.
As a reminder, FlyQuest get invites for eating KBBQ after going out last at every event.
They’ll be at PGL Astana after beating Metizport in a BO5 that went the distance, but had sjuush to thank for a ridiculously consistent performance over the series, and saving them from the ignominy of losing to their old players.
We have big respect for NIP for this; yes, they tried to cheat it a little bit with the JACKZ thing to get Wildcard invites, but the problem was they had JACKZ on their team, and invariably lost. This time, with their full roster, they’ve qualified the ‘right’ way.
The fact that there are multiple teams here who would probably enhance half of the events in the calendar can’t be ignored - but that’s exactly why this is an impressive result for NIP. They must be fiending for a LAN, and we wouldn’t want to have to play against them.
Snappi always has a chip on his shoulder anyway, so now he’s going to be HUNGRY.
It’s good to see ewjerkz and arrozdoce back, because SAW have been pretty mediocre so far this year and we’ve really missed them. Similarly, seeing sjuush back at the top tier means there’s finally a team with more than one Dane that is worth watching.
Yes, that is pointed directly at Falcons and Astralis.
We’re excited to watch NIP, and we don’t say that lightly. This is a team that might actually do some damage, or at least be a little bit fun to watch.
You’ll only have to wait a month to find out how silly we look, anyway, with PGL Astana starting on May 10th. Team Spirit are there, but no MOUZ or Vitality. ODDIK, M80 and HOTU qualified from their respective regions,