NIP avoid schedule clash after early Thunderpick exit

Ninjas in Pyjamas finished last at the Thunderpick World Championship after losing 0-2 to Aurora in Group A’s elimination match in Malta. The Stake Pulse quarter-finals are scheduled to begin in Sweden on Friday at 08:00.

NIP entered the Malta event after qualifying for the Stake Pulse Beat III playoffs in Stockholm. The two tournaments left the team with two days to compete in both events, creating a risk that advancing at the Thunderpick World Championship could have forced a forfeit in one competition.

NIP also lost to Falcons in its opening match. The two defeats reduced the team’s chances of qualifying for PGL Major Singapore. NIP remains above the invite line, with an estimated 70% chance of securing a place.

NIP had opportunities on Cache, where Rasmus “sjuush” Beck won two one-versus-two clutch rounds. Aurora took control after switching to the T side and closed out the map.

Dust2 was one of NIP’s two most frequent bans in the reduced seven-map pool. Aurora led 9-3 at halftime after Ismailcan “XANTARES” Dörtkardeş won a one-versus-three situation.

Aurora’s Ali “Wicadia” Haydar Yalçın led the match with 45 kills and a 1.65 rating. XANTARES recorded 36 kills and a 1.41 rating, while Özgür “woxic” Eker finished with a 1.30 rating.

Karim “Krimbo” Moussa was NIP’s top performer with 32 kills and a 1.00 rating. Martin “stavn” Lund finished the match with a 0.58 rating.

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