NIP secure first victory at EPL Season 16 against Endpoint

The Swedes switched up their main AWPer for the series, with Fredrik "⁠REZ⁠" Sterner taking on the role.

Ninjas in Pyjamas defeated Endpoint in a two-map series, winning Vertigo 16-7 and Inferno 19-15. REZ taking the AWP from Patrick "⁠es3tag⁠" Hansen for the entirety of Vertigo and the CT side of Inferno was the game's big talking point, with the 24-year-old producing a 1.22 rating across the series.

The Swedes recorded their first win of the tournament after the role change and are not out of contention yet, but their chance of progressing is slim. If Natus Vincere beat Vitality, for instance, Hampus "⁠hampus⁠" Poser and company would be eliminated no matter what. Endpoint's fate is also hinging on other results, as they need fnatic to beat Spirit today to remain in playoff contention.

Endpoint got off to an impressive start on Vertigo, with Guy "⁠NertZ⁠" Iluz getting three kills in the pistol round. They kept up the pressure as they raced to a 6-1 lead, looking like the team that upset Natus Vincere yesterday. Ninjas in Pyjamas had REZ pick up the AWP and as soon as he was able to find impact, the Swedes started to claw back at their disadvantage. They won seven out of the last eight rounds, securing themselves an 8-7 lead at the interval.

Once the sides switched, the expectations for Ninjas in Pyjamas were low, considering they previously won just 17% of their T rounds in the tournament. This time they looked much improved, however, as they forced Endpoint into several saves and won all eight rounds in a row. The Swedes ended up 16-7 winners and moved the series to their map pick of Inferno.

Ninjas in Pyjamas kept their momentum from Vertigo with a pistol round win on the second map, but Endpoint were quick to fight back with a force-buy and race to a 5-1 lead. A short spree by the Swedes followed, with the fate of the half hanging in the balance. Markus "⁠Kjaerbye⁠" Kjærbye delivered a crucial multi-kill round to put his team back into the driver's seat, as the half finished 10-5.

Another pistol round for Ninjas in Pyjamas meant the disadvantage dissolved to just two rounds, but Endpoint quickly ran away again as soon as their economy allowed it. REZ, who was a nuisance to the T side across the entire half, led the fightback from 8-13 down to force out overtime, with the Swede putting up 29 kills at the end of regulation.

Ninjas in Pyjamas posted a flawless CT side in overtime, hitting match point uncontested before the switch. The Swedes converted in their first try on the attack to lock in their first ESL Pro League Season 16 win.