sjuush: "It was hard to accept in the beginning, but I also like building up from scratch"

"It was pretty weird to watch all the events going on that I used to be at," the Dane added.

Ninjas in Pyjamas completely revamped their roster at the start of the year and struggled for results due to their VRS ranking, which forced them to use Audric "⁠JACKZ⁠" Jug as a stand-in for the beginning of the season.

That decision failed to return them to tier-one LANs, but the team plowed on and won the PGL Astana qualifier to secure a spot at the Kazakhstani event.

"I don't know, we've been really excited to get back here, and just show what we can do," Rasmus "⁠sjuush⁠" Beck told HLTV after returning to an offline environment in Kazakhstan's capital.

In the first game against Virtus.pro, sjuush led the way with a 1.48 rating to keep up his impressive form in 2025, which the Dane attributes to a bigger role in the team.

You can watch or read the interview below or listen to it on Spotify.

---

I'm here with sjuush after he and his team just beat VP at PGL Astana. It's your first tier-one LAN with NIP, and your first victory. That must feel good, right?

Yeah, it feels amazing. I mean, it's been a while since I've been to a tier-one event, and I think it's also new to some of the other guys. I don't know, we've been really excited to get back here and just show what we can do.

To touch on this series specifically. You guys picked Train, which is a very underplayed map overall. What makes you guys like it so much?

I guess underdogs also have a really good chance on this map. Also, we've been practicing it a lot, so I feel like we have some really comfortable plays on it, some comfortable tactics as well.

I feel like we have good knowledge on when to push and what's open, and just in general, things to do on the map, I feel like we have really good knowledge of that. Also nade usage and all of this, so I think it's just a confident map for us.

You had a great performance today on Train and overall as well, and I think you could say that for the whole year with NIP. Is there something different this year that helps you? I know you're maybe playing against lower-ranked teams, but your rating at least is the highest it's ever been.

I mean, I don't know what I've done differently. I've been going to the gym regularly, so that makes me happier, at least when I'm back home. I've been home a lot. [laughs] But other than that, I feel like I maybe just have more to say in the team, and can control it a little bit, and also just give my honest opinion about pretty much anything.

I feel like I can give a lot to the other young guys in the team about the things they are lacking and communication-wise, we were known for that in the past in HEROIC, so I feel like on that point, I can give so much to the team, also mid-round when we're playing.

This is your first tier-one LAN. How important is it for you guys to grasp this opportunity now, especially because of the VRS points?

Yeah, I mean, this is one of the most important events for us. Because this is going to give us a way, like a head start for the next season, at least, if we do really well here, so we can get some invites for some other events. We definitely don't plan on going out early.

And for you, this past year, right? You went from pretty much playing every tier-one tournament to grinding CCT qualifiers, Open qualifiers. How has that been for you? Has it been tough to adapt?

Yeah, I mean, it was pretty weird to watch all the events going on that I used to be at, not travel at all, and seeing my past teammates playing the events. I mean, I was happy for them, but it's just sad that I wasn't there. So it was kind of hard to accept in the beginning. But I also just like building something up from scratch and actually seeing it work out as well.

Did you expect it to be this hard to break through to LAN events when you signed?

No. I mean, I expected it to be hard, but I think the VRS system is pretty bad, so it was really hard to come up, you have to win pretty much everything. I mean, even this qualifier was an Open qualifier with 300 teams, then a closed qualifier with 32 teams, and you can't lose a single one, only one goes through. That's a rough system.

So I guess you probably think it should be changed in some way. Do you have any ideas on how it can be improved, especially for new teams that come in with zero points?

I mean, it definitely should be changed, but I have no idea how they should do it.

This tournament here. What is the minimum result that you would be happy with at the end?

I don't know, actually, I think we're just enjoying it at the moment, just seeing how far it goes. Because I think what's most important for me is that I see progress, and as long as we're doing the things we do in practice, then I see no reason why we shouldn't go to the playoffs. So I think I would definitely be happy with the playoffs, and if we can go further than that, even happier.