NIP overcome BIG to move on in Flashpoint 3 lower bracket

After edging out BIG in three maps, Ninjas in Pyjamas will face HEROIC in the final of the lower-bracket.

The series between Ninjas in Pyjamas and BIG kicked off with each team winning their map pick convincingly, leading up to a decider on Train where the Swedes secured the victory with the smallest of margins, 16-14.

"We are still trying to find our consistency, especially me, I'm not really satisfied with the level I'm putting out," star-signing Nicolai "⁠device⁠" Reedtz said after the match, commenting on his new team's deep run in their first tournament together. "I'm happy with the top 4, but we need to keep pushing."

Crucial to the victory was Train, the final map of the series and one that is set to be phased out of the competitive map pool after the conclusion of Flashpoint 3. Asked about how much time they have been putting in, device noted that they have been working on Train especially because of their "shaky" Mirage. "We practiced Train, I think our Train is really f*cking good in practice," the AWPer said.

Aside from keeping their hopes of winning the tournament alive with the 2-1 win, Ninjas in Pyjamas have ensured a better finish that device's former team Astralis - and avoided playing a fifth-placed decider against Lukas "⁠gla1ve⁠" Rossander and co.

"I'm here for the long-term project," device said about surpassing the all-Danish team in Flashpoint 3. "Obviously the short-term results are great, I think that for this tournament you can count us as the winners, but I know the first time we meet it is going to be a grudge match. I know when the guys are motivated they really shoot heads so I'm really looking forward to that game, it is going to be amazing."

Flawless executes were the foundation for BIG's strong start to the T side of Dust2, going up 10-1 in no time. Nicolas "⁠Plopski⁠" Gonzalez Zamora's 3K gave Ninjas in Pyjamas their first — and only — round of the half, which ended with a dominant 14-1 scoreline in favor of the Germans. They reached a 15-2 lead shortly, but Ninjas in Pyjamas held on for a while, increasing their round count to 10 before BIG's inevitable 16-10 win.

Overpass was a brawl right from the start, with Florian "⁠syrsoN⁠" Rische's s1mple-esque clutch giving BIG the early lead on defense (3-2), but Ninjas in Pyjamas went on to win four clutches of their own to take momentum and go up 9-3. Johannes "⁠tabseN⁠" Wodarz's team only managed one more before the switch, and weren't able to mount a comeback on the offense as Ninjas in Pyjamas closed it out, 16-6, in a low-buy round.

Ninjas in Pyjamas had a hot start on Train, 6-1, putting themselves in a good position early on into the offense. syrsoN and tabseN stepped up to salvage the half for BIG, though, seeing them go to the break just one round behind. They turned things around fully after the switch, grabbing a 12-9 lead, but the game spiraled back into chaos as the end neared. Both teams won eco rounds, but Ninjas in Pyjamas's round 29 victory broke their opponents' money and helped them close out the match, 16-14.