The Swedish organization Ninjas in Pyjamas continues its history in CS2 with a completely updated roster. Only Ukrainian sniper Artem “r1nkle” Moroz, who has already proven himself on the world stage, remained from the previous roster.

Key changes and tactical approach

Marco “Snappi” Pfeiffer, who led ENCE to victory at IEM Dallas in 2023, became the team captain. His experience in building the game and developing young talent will be important for the new squad. Snappi is known for his ability to create a strong tactical base, which will help NIP find a balance between aggressive play and solid defense.

Sjuush, who previously played for Heroic, will be the main defender and provide stability on the CT sides. Ewjerkz and arrozdoce, semifinalists of IEM Cologne 2024 with SAW, will add international experience and a variety of playing styles to the team.

JACKZ's participation in the team

Audric “JACKZ” Jug will be a temporary stand-in for NIP to meet Valve's requirements for Wildcard invitations. His experience of playing for Vitality at the BLAST Premier World Final 2024 allows the team to get the necessary points to participate in tournaments. It is not yet known who exactly JACKZ will replace in the roster, but his presence will provide the team with additional flexibility.

Team reformatting and challenges

The new NIP roster starts with 0 points in the Valve Global Standings, which is a challenge for the team. However, thanks to the Wildcard invitations, the organization has already received a place in the Play-In stage of CCT Season 2 European Series 16. This tournament will be the first test for the updated roster.

The new roster includes experienced and promising players:

• Artem “r1nkle” Moroz (AWP) 
• Marco “Snappi” Pfeiffer (IGL) 
• Rasmus “sjuush” Beck 
• Raphael “arrozdoce” Wing 
• Michel “ewjerkz” Pinto 
• Richard “Xizt” Landström (coach)

What do experts say?

Experts and analysts note that Snappi has every chance to build a strong team around young talents such as r1nkle. At the same time, the presence of experienced players such as sjuush and JACKZ will add stability and help the team reach a new level.

This is the second reformatting of NIP in the last nine months. Will they be able to regain their position among the top teams? The debut match at the CCT Play-In stage will be crucial for their future path.