Ninjas in Pyjamas have officially announced the signing of Martin “stavn” Lund — and not just as a rifler, but as their new primary AWPer. The move instantly became one of the most talked-about transfers in recent weeks, as the Dane has never been a full-time sniper throughout his career.
A new role for stavn — and the end of r1nkle’s era?
In NiP, stavn replaces Artem “r1nkle” Moroz, who has been moved to the bench following the team’s failed IEM Cologne Major qualification. The Ukrainian AWPer struggled to provide consistent impact, prompting the organization to make a bold change.
For stavn, this marks a complete transition into a new role. Previously, he operated as a hybrid player — occasionally picking up the AWP, but primarily playing as a rifler during his time in HEROIC. Now, NiP are betting on his versatility and raw mechanical skill.
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Return after a long break
stavn has spent the last eight months away from competitive play after stepping down from Astralis due to personal issues. Back in January, he stated:
With professional therapy and patience, I now feel more grounded than before and ready to strive for greatness.
Joining NiP marks the long-awaited comeback — and a major challenge given his new responsibilities.
Reuniting with familiar faces
At NiP, stavn reunites with:
- Rasmus “sjuush” Beck
- coach Richard “Xizt” Landström
The trio previously found success together in HEROIC. Additionally, stavn is already familiar with Marco “Snappi” Pfeiffer’s system, having played under him earlier in his career.
This familiarity could help accelerate his adaptation within the team.
Updated NiP roster
Following the move, NiP’s lineup is now:
- Marco “Snappi” Pfeiffer
- Rasmus “sjuush” Beck
- Kacper “xKacpersky” Gabara
- Artem “cairne” Mushynskyi
- Martin “stavn” Lund
Coach:
- Richard “Xizt” Landström
Benched:
- Artem “r1nkle” Moroz
- Michel “ewjerkz” Pinto
Community reaction: memes, doubts, and debate
The announcement sparked mixed reactions across the community.
- Owen “smooya” Butterfield joked about stavn switching to AWP, referencing his own ELO
- NiP replied sarcastically: “What elo?”
- some fans criticized the decision, questioning the logic behind benching r1nkle
- others believe stavn’s raw aim could translate well into the AWP role
NiP even added fuel to the discussion by jokingly claiming stavn is “better than ZywOo,” which quickly spread across social media.
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What does this mean for NiP?
This move is a high-risk, high-reward gamble. NiP are betting on a player who:
- has elite mechanical skill
- already understands the system and teammates
- can bring tactical flexibility
However, the key question remains:
can stavn consistently perform as a Tier-1 primary AWPer?
The answer will likely come soon — especially with the race toward the Singapore Major heating up.
