The Stage 1 Round of 32 match between Ninjas in Pyjamas and Team Liquid ended with a 2–1 victory for Liquid. The series unfolded in a tense, back-and-forth fashion: Liquid took Nuke on their opponent’s pick, NiP responded on Mirage, but on the deciding Ancient the North American side kept their composure and closed out the match.
Road to the matchup — different form, different expectations
- Ninjas in Pyjamas — a winning streak and a sense of stability
NiP came into the match in very positive shape. Five consecutive wins over the past three months, several convincing BO3 victories, and an overall sense of structured play created the impression of a team that had finally found balance. Ahead of BLAST Bounty 2026, Ninjas in Pyjamas looked ready for a serious challenge and were seen as a dangerous opponent even for the favorites.
- Liquid — inconsistent results, but a higher individual ceiling
Liquid entered the series with a more mixed run of form. Losses to Passion UA, The MongolZ, and Spirit contrasted with wins over Astralis and TYLOO, highlighting the team’s defining trait — inconsistency paired with extremely high potential. It was this individual class that was expected to be the deciding factor against NiP.
Nuke — 13:10. Liquid take NiP’s pick
Despite Nuke being selected by Ninjas in Pyjamas, the map quickly became uncomfortable for them. Liquid converted key duels more efficiently, managed the economy well, and punished every positional mistake. NiP stayed close on the scoreboard, but several broken buy rounds in the middle of the map allowed Liquid to close Nuke 13:10.
Mirage — 13:8. A confident response from NiP
On Mirage, Liquid’s pick, Ninjas in Pyjamas looked far more cohesive. They won opening engagements more consistently, read their opponent’s rotations better, and prevented Liquid from building economic momentum. The result was a convincing 13:8 victory and a full reset of the series heading into the decider.
Ancient — 16:13. Liquid’s class at the critical moment
The decider became the most intense part of the match. Ancient delivered a string of even trades, long rounds, and several crucial clutches. In the end, Liquid’s class showed. The team converted numerical advantages more cleanly, played late rounds with greater confidence, and eventually edged out Ancient 16:13 to secure the series.
Player of the match — Jonathan “EliGE” Jablonowski
Liquid’s leader was the defining figure of the series:
- 1.42 rating
- 95.7 ADR
- 78.1% KAST
- +3.59% swing
EliGE consistently won decisive duels, set the pace in attacks, and was the key factor in the toughest rounds on Ancient.
Teamplay breakdown — when class decides
Liquid secured the series through composure and the individual quality of their leaders. After losing Mirage, the team did not lose structure; instead, they regrouped and delivered their most stable stretch precisely when the value of each round was at its highest. NiP showed organized play and solid preparation, but in the decisive moments they lacked the precision and decisiveness needed to turn the series in their favor.
VRS impact
- Liquid: +13 points — an important boost to their ranking position
- Ninjas in Pyjamas: –9 points — a small but noticeable drop after an early exit
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Tournament implications
Liquid advance further in the BLAST Bounty 2026 Season 1 bracket, earning a win that could prove pivotal in terms of confidence and momentum. The team confirmed that even with inconsistent form, they are capable of winning key matches through sheer class. For Ninjas in Pyjamas, this exit feels particularly painful: strong pre-match form failed to translate into results, and the line between control and defeat proved razor-thin.
