Stavn switches from rifler to NiP’s primary AWPer

Martin ‘stavn’ Lund said he intended to become an in-game leader or take up the AWP after cadiaN’s removal from HEROIC. He left the organization in 2023, spent several months off the competitive scene for personal reasons, and returned to play for Ninjas in Pyjamas ahead of the CCT Global Finals.

The 24-year-old Dane made the switch from rifling to the AWP for the first time in his professional career. NiP placed third at the CCT Global Finals, with stavn using the AWP as his primary weapon throughout the event.

Stavn described the timeline: he planned the role change within HEROIC but was contacted by Astralis soon after, which altered his recruitment path. He discussed potential AWP plans with his agent, but talks did not involve Astralis ownership or his former teammates. He opted not to return to Astralis and chose to sign with Ninjas in Pyjamas instead.

He acknowledged the consequences of the 2023 roster changes. He accepted that his and teammate Jakob ‘jabbi’ Nygaard’s departures followed cadiaN’s removal and affected HEROIC’s lineup. He said he felt remorse for how events unfolded and recognized the decisions were influenced by career considerations.

Explaining the decision to AWP, stavn pointed to positional play and CT-side control rather than raw mechanical aim. He compared his own strengths to high-aim players and said positioning and map control suit the AWP role for him.

Stavn also identified areas for improvement. He noted the team needs more practice, he must relearn routines for official matches and work on emotional control during events. At the CCT Global Finals he highlighted repeated mistakes on anti-eco rounds and said officials and mental preparation are priorities.

The player offered praise for his teammates, calling out Kacper ‘xKacpersky’ Gabara for strong early performances and encouraging more in-game communication from him because his input is useful.

The sequence of events began with cadiaN’s removal as HEROIC’s in-game leader in 2023, followed by transfers that drew criticism from parts of the community. After a period away to address personal matters, stavn returned to competition with NiP and assumed the role of primary AWPer as he works to settle into the lineup and regain competitive momentum.