Sources: NIP to keep only two players after RMR disaster

The Swedish organization has begun to overhaul its team after failing to qualify for the Copenhagen Major.

Ninjas in Pyjamas have benched Kristian "⁠k0nfig⁠" Wienecke, Patrick "⁠es3tag⁠" Hansen, Daniil "⁠headtr1ck⁠" Valitov and head coach Daniel "⁠djL⁠" Narancic, multiple sources have told HLTV. The decision comes in the aftermath of the team’s failure to qualify for PGL Major Copenhagen.

The Ninjas looked awfully out of sorts in the Europe RMR A tournament in Bucharest. They were eliminated without winning a single game following defeats to Eternal Fire, AMKAL and SAW — three teams that would go on to qualify for the Major.

PGL Major Copenhagen will be only the fourth Counter-Strike Major in history that Ninjas in Pyjamas will miss. Previously, the team missed ELEAGUE Major Atlanta 2017, PGL Major Krakow 2017 and ELEAGUE Major Boston 2018.

In an interview with HLTV after NIP’s elimination, k0nfig acknowledged that the future was uncertain. He also admitted that the video released by the organization days before the RMR, hinting at big signings, had put more pressure on the team.

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Of the three players that Ninjas in Pyjamas are placing on the bench, es3tag is the one who has been with the organization the longest, having been signed from Complexity in November 2021. However, he spent almost a year on the bench before making his way back into the starting lineup in October 2023.

k0nfig and headtr1ck have been with Ninjas in Pyjamas since January 2023. The Ukrainian AWPer has not been able to make an impact at the highest level after being signed from NAVI’s academy, averaging only a 1.08 rating with the team. The Danish rifler has also struggled for consistency with the Ninjas, averaging a 1.03 rating.

The decision to hold on to Alejandro "⁠alex⁠" Masanet comes without surprise, as Björn "⁠THREAT⁠" Pers decided to build the team around the Spanish tactician when he took over as General Manager in the fall of 2023.

And despite being often criticized for his lack of consistency, Fredrik "⁠REZ⁠" Sterner has been the team’s best player in 2024. He ended all three LAN events he has attended this year with above-average numbers and was the only player on NIP with a 1.00+ tournament rating in Bucharest.

Ninjas in Pyjamas have approximately three weeks to put together a new lineup as the team is slated to competed in the BLAST Premier Spring Showdown, scheduled for March 6-10.

Contacted by HLTV, Ninjas in Pyjamas declined to comment.