ESL Pro League Season 18Vitality cruise to EPL playoffs with victory over Ninjas in Pyjamas
The Swedish side were knocked down to Group A's lower bracket, where they'll face FURIA.
Vitality became the second team to secure a spot in the playoffs of ESL Pro League Season 18 after taking down Ninjas in Pyjamas 2-0. It was a one-sided affair in favor of Danny "zonic" Sørensen's men as the Ninjas looked completely unrecognizable from the squad that swept through Astralis on Wednesday.
The world's No.1 team is now poised to secure a spot directly in the quarter-finals as they are scheduled to fight Movistar Riders on Sunday at 16:00 . The Spanish squad has been the surprise package from Group A, but it's difficult to imagine how they can hold out against Mathieu "ZywOo" Herbaut and company.
| Date | Matches | |
|---|---|---|
| ESL Pro League Season 18 | ||
| 03/09/2023 |
16:00
|
Match |
The series began on Ninjas in Pyjamas' map pick of Mirage, and it wasn't a pleasant experience for Hampus "hampus" Poser's men. Despite finding several entry frags and bomb plants, the European mix wasn't able to find much success in their offensive half as they trailed 2-13 before the break.
Ninjas in Pyjamas claimed the pistol round after switching sides as a consolation prize before Vitality closed the map 16-3, courtesy of Lotan "Spinx" Giladi's nuclear performance worthy of a 2.32 rating.
Ninjas in Pyjamas showed signs of life on Nuke as they organized a competitive CT side, powered by hampus and Ludvig "Brollan" Brolin, but they were only able to claim an 8-7 lead before halftime.
Unfortunately for the Swedish core, Vitality kickstarted their CT side on fire, and only conceded one round on their way to a 16-9 victory. It was a team effort for Vitality as every player from the European mix registered a rating above 1.13, and Ninjas in Pyjamas could not handle all five players in form.
| Date | Matches | |
|---|---|---|
| ESL Pro League Season 18 | ||
| 01/09/2023 |
19:30
|
Match |
The Ninjas will continue their EPL run from Group A's lower bracket, where they'll face FURIA hoping to avoid the drop to the Last Chance bracket.
  Vitality |
K - D | +/- | ADR | KAST | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 - 27 | +23 | 110.2 | 79.5% | 1.62 | |
| 35 - 21 | +14 | 82.9 | 79.5% | 1.34 | |
| 33 - 21 | +12 | 78.8 | 84.1% | 1.33 | |
| 29 - 24 | +5 | 70.8 | 79.5% | 1.13 | |
| 27 - 26 | +1 | 73.7 | 79.5% | 1.12 |
  Ninjas in Pyjamas |
K - D | +/- | ADR | KAST | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 - 36 | -7 | 86.0 | 63.6% | 0.97 | |
| 24 - 35 | -11 | 71.0 | 59.1% | 0.84 | |
| 22 - 31 | -9 | 62.5 | 68.2% | 0.83 | |
| 21 - 35 | -14 | 52.0 | 63.6% | 0.71 | |
| 23 - 37 | -14 | 63.6 | 52.3% | 0.70 |
Tiago 'JUST' Moura
Adam 'adamS' Marian
| 
MikeOHearnNo1
David_Beckham
| 
BastiFantasti
JAMYOUNG_TOP_1_2025
PsychoLogical25
| 
Friendlyuser1
n0cturne_K
| 
GG_ME_NO_TROLL)))))))))
tanerorc
Monad
| 
| 
mikecool
CodenameSigma
Luseque
