NiP to IEM final over FaZe

The match started out on Ninjas in Pyjamas’s pick Nuke, but the first round the way of their rivals, FaZe, who were able to defuse the Swedes' plant. The first gun round went to Ninjas in Pyjamas as they were able to get an early plant and defend it on the 4vs5 afterplant. The European combine didn’t waste any time though and won a forcebuy to take the 3-1 lead. Ninjas in Pyjamas on a forcebuy on their own took over the lower site through exterior and ramp, though, to bring it within one.

A huge play by Finn "⁠karrigan⁠" Andersen getting three scout kills on B site kept FaZe ahead early in the half, although Ninjas in Pyjamas were quick not only to respond but to tie it up, 4-4, and then quickly start to run away with the half, constantly abusing ramp and secret to get behind FaZe’s defenses to take the half 10-5.

Just like Ninjas in Pyjamas had a great side attacking, FaZe were also relentless in their terrorist side play, as walls of smoke were deployed on the outer area of the map allowing karrigan & co. to abuse the mid and late rounds with a lot of map control. After a terrorist-sided half going to FaZe, the map ended 15-15 and ready for overtime.

This time around Ninjas in Pyjamas put up an incredibly solid defense winning all three of their rounds on the CT side. A bomb plant in the smoke next to doors in the lower site gave Ninjas in Pyjamas an afterplant advantage which they were able to capitalize on as FaZe got absolutely obliterated as they ran into the site. With that clean overtime, the map ended 19-15.

The second map started out with FaZe defending on Train. They were able to win the pistol round as well as the first gun round, taking a 4-0 lead. Having planted several times, though, Ninjas in Pyjamas had enough money for a buy on the fifth round, which they were able to take. However, FaZe were rightback at it, stopping Ninjas in Pyjamas’s push on A for a 5-1 lead. Adam "⁠friberg⁠" Friberg had a great two kill play to get their team’s second on the board on the eighth round, which allowed Ninjas in Pyjamas to get back in the game as FaZe had to get their money back in order with an eco.

Finally, FaZe got back into it late in the half to close it with a 10-5 lead before the switch and with good chances at taking the series into a third map. The second half sawFaZe only give up a single round to the Ninjas, to end 16-6, and propelling the match to a third and final map, Overpass.

After winning the pistol round and with 3-0 on the board, it looked like Ninjas in Pyjamas were about to start running away on the board with the fourth, but a double by karrigan and a triple by Philip "⁠aizy⁠" Aistrup got FaZe on the board. The next round looked like it was going to the Ninjas, as the Swedes had four players alive and were about to plant, but a huge quad clutch by Fabien "⁠kioShiMa⁠" Fiey kept FaZe going. Both teams were fairly even in the early stages of the half, but it was finally Ninjas in Pyjamas that were able to take a decent lead into the switch, 6-9, with a quad kill by Aleksi "⁠allu⁠" Jalli in the last round softening the blow.

The second half started well for Ninjas in Pyjamas, as they were able to secure the pistol round and the first gun round, getting them on the fast track to winning the map. FaZe put together an in extremis buy when down 13-6, including a glass cannon by allu, and were able to get on the board in the second half.

FaZe strung a couple rounds together, getting to nine, but Ninjas in Pyjamas got themselves just one away from match point. Getting into double digits, FaZe were in shot but with no margin of error. The Swedes quickly stopped FaZe on an A execute with an AWP double by Jacob "⁠pyth⁠" Mourujärvi to get on five match points. A last ditch effort got FaZe to 13 rounds, but Ninjas in Pyjamas crushed FaZe’s comeback dreams securing Overpass 16-13 to make it to the finals against SK.

IEM Oakland 2016Best of 3

FaZe

Matchpage

1

2

20th November 2016

Ninjas in Pyjamas

15

Nuke

19

16

Train

6

13

Overpass

16

Ninjas in Pyjamas	K - D	+/-	ADR	KAST	Rating2.0
Patrik 'f0rest' Lindbergf0rest	73 - 58	+15	93.4	70.6%	1.30
Jacob 'pyth' Mourujärvipyth	58 - 62	-4	71.9	68.2%	1.07
Adam 'friberg' Fribergfriberg	58 - 55	+3	76.5	65.9%	1.00
Richard 'Xizt' LandströmXizt	60 - 57	+3	74.9	69.4%	1.00
Christopher 'GeT_RiGhT' AlesundGeT_RiGhT	48 - 52	-4	63.1	71.8%	0.98

FaZe	K - D	+/-	ADR	KAST	Rating2.0
Håvard 'rain' Nygaardrain	73 - 57	+16	98.3	72.9%	1.37
Finn 'karrigan' Andersenkarrigan	65 - 57	+8	80.3	70.6%	1.11
Fabien 'kioShiMa' FieykioShiMa	47 - 62	-15	65.2	69.4%	0.89
Philip 'aizy' Aistrupaizy	54 - 64	-10	70.3	64.7%	0.89
Aleksi 'allu' Jalliallu	45 - 58	-13	61.0	61.2%	0.85