G2 stroll through NIP in BLAST opener

The Ninjas were brushed aside by a G2 squad firing on all cylinders.

G2 grabbed a straightforward 2-0 victory over Ninjas in Pyjamas to open their campaign at the BLAST Premier Spring Groups, taking Vertigo (13-7) and Anubis (13-2) to secure victory.

The fourth-best player of 2023, Ilya "⁠m0NESY⁠" Osipov, was in sublime form throughout the series (1.88 rating), but Ninjas in Pyjamas made things relatively easy for G2 by producing a limp performance that particularly lacked firepower, outside of brief flashes from Fredrik "⁠REZ⁠" Sterner.

G2 head to an upper final bout against the winner of Complexity vs. Natus Vincere, whilst Ninjas in Pyjamas will fight for their tournament life against the loser of that matchup in the lower final.

Date	Matches
BLAST Premier Spring Groups 2024
23/01/2024	G2 12:00 Natus Vincere	Match
23/01/2024	Ninjas in Pyjamas 15:40 Complexity	Match

Ninjas in Pyjamas started the T side of their pick of Vertigo brightly, running out to a 3-0 lead by virtue of a REZ ace in the pistol round. G2 asserted control once they got their economy in order, however, grabbing six rounds in a row thanks in no small part to some superlative holds by m0NESY.

The Ninjas eventually did enough to secure a close halftime scoreline, scrambling to get a couple of rounds on the board at the end of the half and go into the break 5-7 down.

G2 suffered a force-buy loss after winning the second half pistol, but they forced back successfully in response, which led to a comfortable half for the majority-Balkan side. m0NESY continued to run rampant with the Big Green as G2 easily swatted aside Ninjas in Pyjamas's defense time and time again, finishing the map 13-7 to take a 1-0 advantage in the series.

Anubis was an entirely one-sided affair as G2 ran rampant, with Ninjas in Pyjamas struggling to get rounds on the board. The Ninjas failed to get anything meaningful going on their T side, repeatedly suffering due to deep Rasmus "⁠HooXi⁠" Nielsen flanks, and after losing the pistol round they folded on their CT side. G2 duly secured a 13-2 win to close the series.