Ninjas in Pyjamas stuns Astralis in BLAST Premier Spring opener – CS:GO

Regardless of many contemplating Astralis the favourite in its BLAST Premier Spring group matchup towards Ninjas in Pyjamas, NiP surprised followers and defied the percentages by placing Astralis away in two maps. They did so whereas heading off a livid assault by Peter “dupreeh” Rausmussen who tore by the NiP lineup and completed the match with 48 kills. He additionally posted the server’s highest common damage-per-round, most opening kills, and highest score.

However Astralis couldn’t do the identical towards NiP’s rifler Tim “nawwk” Jonasson. After a 16-13 win on Overpass and one other 16-13 on Inferno, nawwk completed the Ninjas in Pyjamas opening match at BLAST Premier concerned in a improbable 82.9% of the staff’s kills. However because the mud settled, the actual star of the present was a brand new addition to the Ninjas in Pyjamas roster.

ztr debut impressed throughout Ninjas in Pyjamas win towards Astralis

Ninjas in Pyjamas elevated up Erik “ztr” Gustafsso from its academy staff as a substitute for the benched Simon “⁠twist⁠” Eliasson who was benched earlier this month. In feedback concerning the change and earlier than ztr’s addition, Ninjas in Pyjamas chief working officer Jonas Gundersen spoke about what it was searching for in a fifth participant.

 “We’ve been unable to launch the huge potential and power in our staff…. New, constructive, and contemporary power is required,” Gendersen mentioned.

The Ninjas in Pyjamas appear to have discovered it in ztr.

The 17-year-old held his personal towards the top-ranked staff on the planet. He completed third-highest on the staff and posted a stable scoreline that included a +6 kill-to-death differential and a 1.02 score. When requested about ztr’s efficiency towards Astralis in a post-match interview, NiP vet Fredrik “REZ” Sterner had nothing however constructive issues to say about his new teammate.

“[ztr is] calm and picked up. He doesn’t have expertise, but it surely appears like he does. I don’t want to do this a lot when he’s popping off,” REZ mentioned, laughing.

REZ additionally revealed that NiP’s latest participant had solely practiced with the staff for simply three days earlier than the Astralis match.

Astralis’s gameplan complicated after unusual veto at BLAST

On the flip facet of Ninja’s spectacular opening match was Astralis’ disappointing one. Whereas dupreeh dominated the charts, Astralis appeared unprepared for Ninjas in Pyjamas’ new participant. It appears to have been a case of the Danes underestimating each ztr and NiP as a complete, particularly when it got here to the map veto.

In a head-scratching choice, Astralis selected Inferno because the veto progressed. It’s been a shaky map for the Danes, who misplaced to Evil Geniuses and Natus Vincere because the starting of January. It’s additionally Ninjas in Pyjamas greatest map. In line with REZ, the Ninjas’ had anticipated Astralis to ban it.

“We didn’t even put together for Inferno…we ready Mud 2”, REZ mentioned.

Astralis appeared like they performed themselves in BLAST’s opening matchup. They now transfer to the decrease bracket to play the loser of February 4th’s match between BIG and OG whereas Ninjas in Pyjamas will play the winner. Each are scheduled to happen tomorrow, Friday, February 6.