The new week of PGL Masters Bucharest 2025 begins with a matchup between HEROIC and Ninjas in Pyjamas — two teams meeting again after a series of clashes during IEM Cologne 2025. Both teams enter the tournament in the Swiss Stage, where an opening victory could be the key to reaching the playoffs. HEROIC approach the match ranked #19 in the world, while NiP hold the #24 position, but carry a psychological advantage thanks to their recent winning streak in head-to-head encounters.
PGL MASTERS BUCHAREST 2025 — AN IMPORTANT START TO THE SEASON
PGL Masters Bucharest 2025 runs from October 26 to November 1 in Romania’s capital. Sixteen teams compete for a $1,250,000 prize pool. The format features a Swiss Stage (Bo3) leading into a Single Elimination Playoff, with the final played in Bo5.
The tournament winner will receive $200,000, while top-8 teams will earn crucial VRS points, impacting qualification for the upcoming Winter Major. Bucharest becomes the central stage of the autumn CS2 season, where the world’s top lineups will fight for prestige and status.
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HEAD-TO-HEAD — NIP HOLD THE ADVANTAGE
The teams have met five times in 2025, and in every series Ninjas in Pyjamas held the upper hand, winning four out of five matches. Their most recent victory came at IEM Cologne 2025, where they swept HEROIC 2–0, winning on Nuke (13–6) and Train (13–4). HEROIC managed to claim a single win on Ancient, but since then have failed to challenge NiP consistently.
Psychologically, NiP have a comfortable position — their structured style of play repeatedly breaks HEROIC’s mid-round coordination and tempo.
CURRENT FORM
- HEROIC — a young roster with stable potential.
The team ranks #19 worldwide, boasting a 62% win rate over the past three months. Key players include nilo (1.04 rating, 73.9 ADR) and Alkaren, who keep the team afloat through consistency in clutch situations. However, HEROIC often lose control after conceding the first entry — they have only 38% successful retakes, a weakness against structured opponents.
Recent victories over fnatic, FUT, and BB show improvement, but the 0–2 loss to Liquid exposed major issues on Dust2 and Mirage.
- Ninjas in Pyjamas — experience and strategy.
The European mix (#24 HLTV) led by Xizt displays structure and analytical precision. The team maintains a 56% win rate, yet their performance against top-tier teams is impressive — victories over BB, OG, and PARIVISION show steady growth.
xKapersky leads with a 1.10 rating, 83.3 ADR, and 72.5% KAST, while Snappi effectively manages the team’s tactics, and sjuush provides stability in crucial rounds. Despite losses to Natus Vincere, NiP appear composed and precise in positional play.
MAP POOL & VETO
Statistics for the past three months (HEROIC | Ninjas in Pyjamas):
- Dust2: 42% | 29%
- Mirage: 33% | 25%
- Inferno: 50% | 0%
- Nuke: 29% | 67%
- Train: — | 62%
- Overpass: 80% | 33%
- Ancient: 38% | 57%
Predicted veto:
HEROIC traditionally ban Train, where they have no recent practice, while NiP are expected to remove Overpass, which is HEROIC’s strongest map (80%).
Expected picks:
- HEROIC: Inferno or Overpass
- Ninjas in Pyjamas: Nuke or Ancient
The decider map may be Dust2, where both teams show similar statistics and prefer slow-paced rounds with mid control.
KEY DUELS
- nilo vs xKapersky — a battle of generations. The young Swede faces NiP’s consistent sniper, who dictates the rhythm of each round.
- Alkaren vs sjuush — a contest of positional intelligence, where control over bombsites A and B will be decisive.
- yxngstxr vs r1nkle — a crucial entry duel that could determine the flow of play on Mirage or Inferno.
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PREDICTION
Ninjas in Pyjamas appear more prepared for LAN conditions, with a deeper map pool and an advantage in previous encounters. HEROIC can challenge through strong performances on Overpass, but NiP’s structure and Snappi’s leadership make them the clear favorites. A competitive series is expected, but NiP have all the tools to close it out in two maps.
Predicted score: Ninjas in Pyjamas 2–1 HEROIC
