Ninjas in Pyjamas officially secured their invite to IEM Krakow today. The team not only completed a key objective in the ranking race, but also became one of four teams with 10 wins over the past month, while simultaneously reaching the maximum possible number of LAN points.
Roman Imperium Cup
NIP’s result was the logical outcome of their performance at the Roman Imperium Cup, where the team navigated the decisive stage of the tournament without any slip-ups. Just a day earlier, the situation looked risky: any loss in the playoffs could have left the Swedes dependent on their rivals failing at parallel events.
However, Ninjas in Pyjamas executed the “safe scenario” and guaranteed themselves a position above Imperial in the rankings as of January 5, which automatically secured a slot at IEM Krakow.
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Consistent results
Over the past month, NIP have shown consistent performances:
- 10 match wins
- Win rate — 61.1%
- A 5-match winning streak
- Confident LAN performances without sharp drops
In terms of maps, the team looks balanced. Mirage is almost always banned, while Nuke (71.4%), Overpass (66.7%), and Train (62.5%) regularly bring victories. This consistency directly impacts the LAN factor and ranking points.
Individually, the core of the roster maintains a strong level:
r1nkle, sjuush, and xKacpersky all have ratings above 1.10, allowing the team to win series even without a single player dominating the maps. Snappi fulfills the role of a system-oriented IGL, keeping the game structure intact and free from chaos.
Ranking context
At the moment, Ninjas in Pyjamas are among the four teams with the maximum number of LAN points. The same list includes:
- FaZe
- FUT
- K27
At the same time, the situation for competitors differs significantly. FUT and K27 will begin losing ranking points in the coming days, while NIP have already locked in their points pool. This makes the Swedes’ position one of the most stable in the top-24 zone.
Context of the previous update
Even before the decisive matches of the Roman Imperium Cup began, the scenario looked as follows:
the winner of the NIP vs Gentle Mates matchup was guaranteed to finish above Imperial regardless of the final. This exact scenario played out, removing any mathematical risks for Ninjas in Pyjamas.
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The invite
Ninjas in Pyjamas navigated a crucial stretch of the season without mistakes. The invite to IEM Krakow is secured, the winning streak is backed by numbers, and their position in the LAN rankings allows the team to start the year without pressure from competitors. Against the backdrop of upcoming point losses for other teams, NIP appear to be among the main beneficiaries of this ranking race.
