Astralis have secured their place in the Esports World Cup 2026 playoffs after defeating Ninjas in Pyjamas 2-1 in the Group B lower-bracket semifinal. The Danish squad took Nuke 13-3, dropped Inferno 10-13, and then closed Cache 13-7. Victor “Staehr” Staehr delivered a dominant performance with a 1.51 rating. The victory sends Astralis into the playoffs, while NIP are eliminated from the tournament.
Astralis recover after opening defeat to Falcons
Astralis started their Esports World Cup campaign with a difficult matchup against Falcons. The Danish side struggled to find an answer and suffered a 0-2 defeat, immediately dropping into the lower bracket. They responded by beating MIBR to keep their tournament run alive. That victory set up a decisive series against NIP, with the winner advancing to the playoffs.
NIP took a different route. They opened the event with a convincing 13-5 lose over Legacy on Cache. However, a 2-0 win to BetBoom sent them into the deciding lower-bracket match against Astralis. With everything on the line, Astralis recovered from losing the second map and secured the playoff ticket in three maps.
Astralis dominate Nuke before NIP respond
The series began on Nuke, NIP’s map pick, but Astralis immediately took control. They built a huge 9-3 advantage in the opening half and gave their opponents no opportunity to recover. Astralis won all four rounds after the side switch to close the map 13-3 and take a commanding lead in the series.
Inferno produced a much closer battle. The teams were tied 5-5 after ten rounds before NIP edged ahead 7-5 at halftime. Astralis remained within touching distance, but NIP held their advantage and secured a 13-10 victory to force a decider.
Cache was left as the final map. Astralis entered halftime with a narrow 7-5 advantage before taking control after the break. NIP managed only two more rounds as the Danes completed a 13-7 victory and sealed the series 2-1.
Staehr dominates with a 1.51 rating
Victor “Staehr” Staehr was comfortably the best player of the series. He finished the three maps with 53 kills and 36 deaths, while recording an impressive 104.6 ADR. His overall rating reached 1.51. Rasmus “HooXi” Nielsen also played an important role in the victory. The Astralis captain posted a 1.22 rating and an 84.7% KAST. Gytis “ryu” Glušauskas followed closely with a 1.20 rating.
Kacper “xKacpersky” Gabara was NIP’s highest-rated player at 1.13. Martin “stavn” Lund finished with a 1.05 rating, while the rest of the lineup ended below 1.00.
Astralis climb two places in the VRS
The victory also provides Astralis with an important boost in the projected Valve Regional Standings. They gained 41 points, increasing their total from 1,607 to 1,648. As a result, Astralis are projected to climb two positions from No. 19 to No. 17.
NIP lost ten points following the defeat. Their total drops from 1,521 to 1,511, although they remain at No. 26 in the projected standings. Astralis therefore leave the series with both a playoff ticket and an improved position in the global ranking.
Astralis get revenge for their previous NIP defeat
The series also gave Astralis a chance to respond to their previous loss against NIP. Before this match, the teams had met once with their current cores. That encounter came at the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025, where NIP defeated Astralis 13-10 on Nuke. This time, Astralis completely reversed the result on the same map. Their 13-3 victory on Nuke set the tone for the series and helped them secure the eventual 2-1 win.
Teams react after the match
Astralis immediately celebrated their qualification on social media:
PLAYOFFS ARE OUR!
The organization accompanied the message with a graphic confirming its place in the EWC playoffs. NIP, meanwhile, confirmed their elimination with a short message:
our EWC journey ends here
The defeat brings their campaign to a close after a promising opening victory over Legacy but consecutive losses to magic and Astralis.
What’s next?
Astralis advance to the Esports World Cup 2026 playoffs after recovering from their opening defeat to Falcons. Wins over MIBR and NIP allowed the Danish squad to complete their lower-bracket run and claim the remaining playoff place. For Ninjas in Pyjamas, the tournament is over. Their EWC 2026 campaign ends with a 1-2 record after beating Legacy before falling to magic and Astralis.
