Ninjas in Pyjamas CS2 Roster — Players, Roles & Quick Facts
- Marco “Snappi” Pfeiffer (IGL, rifler): Veteran leader known for mid-round calling and pragmatic defaults. Brings Major and elite event pedigree to steady NIP’s CS2 roster.
- Rasmus “sjuush” Beck (anchor/closer, rifler): Elite anchor who wins space on CT and closes late-rounds. Expect him on sites like B Nuke or Ancient’s tricky anchors.
- Michel “ewjerkz” Pinto (entry lurk hybrid): Explosive rifler; wins opening duels and lurk timings. Often the tip of the spear in A-split/Mid control rounds.
- Rafael “arrozdoce” Wing (rifler/support): Glue piece; throws perfect util, trades entries, and adds consistent ADR without overpeeking.
- Artem “r1nkle” Moroz (AWPer): Hard-carry potential. High opening-kill ratio and late-round impact; NIP’s primary win-condition on bigger stages.
- Head coach — Richard “Xizt” Landström: NIP legend shaping the playbook and mid-round structure.
Tip for new fans: to follow pro maps and terminology, see our map explainers for CS2 maps, plus callouts for Mirage, Inferno, Dust 2, Overpass, Anubis, Nuke, and Vertigo.
Ninjas in Pyjamas CS2 — Team Identity & Playstyle
- Philosophy: People-first and pragmatic. Snappi’s rosters typically lean into strong mid-rounding, high-value utility, and clear win-conditions (r1nkle on the AWP or a sjuush clutch).
- T-side: Methodical default into late-round site hits. Expect Mid pressure → info → exec patterns, with ewjerkz taking first contact and arrozdoce trading.
- CT-side: Safe anchors, fast rotations. sjuush excels locking down bombsites; r1nkle’s AWP denies map control.
- Win conditions: (1) r1nkle opening picks; (2) sjuush multi-kill site holds; (3) clean util for late executes; (4) Snappi’s anti-strats in rematches.
To prep like the pros, check your ADR and opening duels; here’s what they mean and how to track them: What is ADR in CS2 and How to check CS2 stats.
Ninjas in Pyjamas Recent Results (2025 snapshot)
- IEM Cologne 2025 (9–12th): Beat HEROIC and 3DMAX in play-in; lost to Aurora and NAVI in the main event.
- PGL Major Astana 2025 (5–8th): Beat VP, G2, HOTU; eliminated by Spirit/Aurora in playoffs contention.
- CCT Season 3 Europe #3 (2nd): Consistent online form; lost in the grand final.
- Fragadelphia x LVL UP EXPO 2025 (1st): Confidence-boosting LAN trophy.
- Qualifiers (mid-year): Mixed results across BLAST Bounty Fall and regional open qualifiers; some close BO3 losses.
Want to understand formats and why results swing? See CS2 ranks, Premier vs Competitive, and what a relegation match means.
NIP CS2 Map Pool — Strengths, Bans & Trends
(last ~6 months signals; small samples vary by event)
- Strong: Nuke (high WR; clean rotations, r1nkle impact), Inferno (exec discipline, banana utility), Ancient (site anchors thrive).
- Playable: Dust 2 (AWP lanes suit r1nkle; relies on mid control), Anubis (T-side timings are key; util must be crisp).
- Swing/Scout pick: Mirage — default heavy; outcome depends on opening duels and mid-round calls.
- Veto lean: Historically avoided maps shift with opponents; under Snappi, vetoes are matchup-driven rather than hard-set.
Study each battleground with our map guides: CS2 maps overview and specific callouts linked above. Practising smokes? Use our CS2 smoke practice commands and jump-throw bind.
Ninjas in Pyjamas CS2 Players — Roles, Stats & “Abouts”
r1nkle (AWP, star)
- Profile: High-impact AWPer; reliable in clutches and opening duels.
- Numbers to watch: High rating across 2025; strong opening kill ratio and sniping score.
- What it means in-server: NIP’s rounds often hinge on his early picks or late-round holds.
Improve your own AWPing: CS2 crosshair guide, Pro settings hub.
sjuush (anchor/closer)
- Profile: World-class anchor who rarely overpeeks and converts man-advantage rounds.
- Numbers: Positive K/D over career, elite site-hold metrics; superb KAST in tight games.
- In server: Trust him to stabilize halves; excels in 2vX with smart utility usage.
ewjerkz (entry/lurk hybrid)
- Profile: Explosive rifler; thrives in A split timings and fast pivots.
- Numbers: Healthy ADR with streaky multi-kills; high ceiling vs mid-tier opponents.
- In server: If he’s winning space early, NIP look dangerous.
arrozdoce (rifler/support)
- Profile: Trades, flashes, line-up nerd.
- Numbers: Solid rating around the 1.0 mark with supportive utility damage and KAST.
- In server: Makes the executes work; unsung value in mid-round trading.
Snappi (IGL)
- Profile: Macro-focused leader with a long history of overperforming budget rosters; thrives in prep and anti-stratting.
- In server: Keeps late-rounds calm; isn’t stat-hungry, but wins with information and rotations.
Optimise like the pros: learn CS2 practice commands and tune performance with CS2 video settings and max FPS tips.
Performance Storyline — 2025 So Far
- Early season rebuild: NIP rebuilt around r1nkle with a Danish-Portuguese core plus Xizt. The first quarter focused on systems (exec protocols, set piece library, and map-specific defaults).
- Spring surge: Qualifier grind produced a Major slot and a C-tier LAN trophy (Fragadelphia).
- Summer step-up: Strong IEM Cologne play-in; main-event experience exposed mid-to-late game vs elite sides (NAVI, Aurora).
- Ongoing challenge: Consistency against top-10. When r1nkle is hot and entries trade well, NIP punch up; when opening duels stall, rounds drift late and rely on heroics.
If you’re new to pro CS2 formats, see How long are CS2 games? and How many rounds are in CS2?.
Key Stats that Define NIP’s CS2 Roster
- Opening duels: r1nkle’s + opening ratio tilts halves; pairing him with an active lurk (ewjerkz) swings map control.
- KAST & utility: arrozdoce and sjuush post strong KAST when executes are on time; flash assists → safer entries.
- Clutch rate: sjuush and r1nkle close late rounds; expect 1v2s to convert on CT sites where rotations are close (e.g., Nuke).
- Map win-rates (recent): Nuke/Inferno best; Ancient solid; Dust2/Anubis variable; Mirage matchup-dependent.
Learn the terms the broadcast uses with our CS2 terminology explainer.
NIP CS2 Roster — Historical Context & Brand
Ninjas in Pyjamas are one of Counter-Strike’s most storied brands (founded 2000), famous for an 87–0 map streak in early CS:GO and the ESL One Cologne 2014 title. That legacy frames today’s expectations: consistent tier-1 playoffs with a scalable system rather than roster roulette.
Want the broader scene context? Compare CS2 vs CS:GO and see our picks for the best CS2 players.
How NIP Win From Here — Practical Takeaways
- Double down on Nuke/Inferno: Lean into veto edges; arrive with fresh pistol protocols and mid-round lobby crunches.
- Boost Anubis T-side: Drill mid clamps and fast A-splits; use grenade cams in review to tighten timings (grenade cam command).
- Protect r1nkle: Set smokes and late re-peeks for opening duels; add set “AWP-save” rotates to keep money healthy.
- Entries trade %, not hero plays: Scripted two-man swings for ewjerkz + arrozdoce on execs; review trading heatmaps after every event (demo controls guide).
- CT rotations: Keep sjuush on comfort anchors; pre-plan aggressive info rounds after 6–7 gun rounds to stop T default rhythm.
Level up your own game:
- Crosshair/setup: Crosshair guide, Copy pro crosshairs, Pro settings hub.
- Performance & stability: Tick rate, Stuttering fixes, Packet loss fix.
- Competitive climb: Premier explained, How to rank up.
Ninjas in Pyjamas CS2 — FAQ
Who is on the Team Ninjas in Pyjamas CS2 roster right now?
Snappi (IGL), sjuush, ewjerkz, arrozdoce, and r1nkle; head coach Xizt.
What maps suit NIP most?
Nuke and Inferno look strongest; Ancient is solid. Dust 2/Anubis are workable; Mirage is opponent-dependent.
Where did NIP place most recently?
9–12th at IEM Cologne 2025; 5–8th at PGL Major Astana 2025; 2nd at CCT S3 Europe #3; 1st at Fragadelphia x LVL UP EXPO 2025.
What’s the outlook for late 2025?
If opening duels and trading stay consistent, this CS2 roster projects as a stable playoff team with upset potential versus top-5.
