NIP outlast Complexity in three-map thriller to book semi-final spot in ESL Pro League

The Swedes' defensive setups proved to be the decisive factor in this action-packed quarter-final.

Ninjas in Pyjamas are through to the ESL Pro League 13 semi-finals following a three-map marathon match over Complexity. The international squad struck first blood in the series in a highly-contested Mirage (19-17), where Valentin "⁠poizon⁠" Vasilev’s AWP was the difference-maker in overtime. The Swedish side hit back on Overpass (16-14) after turning around a huge deficit with an outstanding defensive showing and picked up where they left off on Inferno to run away with the map 16-9.

"Ever since our performance coach came to the team, he’s helped us a lot to be mentally prepared for games and be at 100%," Nicolas "⁠Plopski⁠" Gonzalez Zamora said in regards to their mental fortitude. "He’s helped us inside the games to not tilt and make sure we all help each other. Even though we were down 8-12 on Overpass, it still felt like we could win it".

A red-hot Gambit on a tournament unbeaten streak await Ninjas in Pyjamas in the semi-finals in a first encounter between the two teams, which will commence on Saturday at 15:30

Complexity opened their pick of Mirage with a 3-0 score before Ninjas in Pyjamas got guns in hand to take the lead by one round. However, Kristian "⁠k0nfig⁠" Wienecke would not allow the deficit to grow and pieced together a 3K with an entry onto the A site to help propel his team ahead. Ninjas in Pyjamas secured two additional rounds to stay hot on their opponent’s heels, but Complexity claimed the final rounds of the half.

The trio of Hampus "⁠hampus⁠" Poser, Tim "⁠nawwk⁠" Jonasson and Plopski stepped up on the T side with a high damage output to push the match to overtime from an 8-12 position, but proceedings failed to go in their favour. poizon hit a higher gear in overtime and picked apart the Swedes with his pinpoint accurate AWP to spearhead his team to victory, with a 1v3 wrapping up the map 19-17.

A team ace saw Complexity stamp their authority on the early stages of Overpass as the defenders overwhelmingly shut down Ninjas in Pyjamas with a water-tight defence. Down 1-9, the Swedes regrouped to break down the CT resistance and add three rounds to their tally, but the momentary success was subdued as the international side responded with two swift rounds for an 11-4 lead. Benjamin "⁠blameF⁠" Bremer and co. had burned through their fuel by the time they swapped to the offence and couldn’t find more than three rounds as Ninjas in Pyjamas one-upped their opponents with a near-impenetrable 12-3 defence to force a decider map.

Ninjas in Pyjamas carried over their momentum on Inferno as they stormed to a 7-2 lead on the CT side. Complexity managed to find their footing in the tail end of the half to trade three rounds apiece and salvage a 5-10 scoreline after what looked to be headed towards a halftime blowout. Justin "⁠jks⁠" Savage won a crucial 1v2 in the second half pistol but a follow-up was shut down by hampus' men, who secured a trio of rounds for a 13-6 advantage. The score difference proved too much for Complexity as Ninjas in Pyjamas powered on to end the series 16-9 off the back of a nawwk triple kill to eliminate blameF’s team from the event.