Audric “JACKZ” Jug is no longer part of Ninjas in Pyjamas’ active lineup, as the team’s ability to secure wildcard invites has come to an end. With this change, his time as a stand-in for the squad has officially concluded.
NIP had been able to receive wildcard invitations due to JACKZ’s previous participation in a tournament for Vitality. This allowed the team to meet the required criteria, as three of their players—Marco “Snappi” Pfeiffer from Falcons, Rasmus “sjuush” Beck from HEROIC, and JACKZ from Vitality—had all ranked within the top eight in Valve’s Global Standings at some point over the past year. However, the eligibility rules were recently altered, reducing the required ranking period from 12 months to just six. Since Snappi’s last appearance in the top eight was recorded on March 3, 2024, NIP officially lost their ability to claim wildcard spots as of February 25.
During his stint with the team, JACKZ participated in five CCT closed qualifiers, stepping in for Rafael “arrozdoce” Wing. However, the squad failed to progress in any of those tournaments, ending with a losing match record of six wins and eight losses. Reflecting on his time with NIP, JACKZ expressed his disappointment, stating on X that the results had fallen short of his expectations. He pointed out that playing without any prior practice together made it challenging to adapt to the team’s system and maintain cohesion across different phases of the game.
Currently, Ninjas in Pyjamas find themselves positioned at No. 158 in Valve’s Global Standings, a far cry from the rankings that would grant them direct invitations to high-profile events. Earlier this month, the organization joined 21 other teams in signing an open letter addressing Valve’s structural approach for the 2025 season. In the letter, the teams raised concerns that the scene is now overly dependent on ranking-based invitations, making it increasingly difficult for lower-ranked squads to break into major tournaments.
With the elimination of wildcard invites, the Ninjas now have no alternative but to navigate the grueling path of online qualifiers in order to climb back up the ranks. Their next challenge lies in the PGL Bucharest closed qualifier, an opportunity they secured by successfully advancing through the first open qualifier. This marks a crucial test for the team as they attempt to justify their decision to enter 2025 with a newly assembled, unranked core.
The current NIP roster includes Marco “Snappi” Pfeiffer and Rasmus “sjuush” Beck from Denmark, Artem “r1nkle” Moroz from Ukraine, as well as the Portuguese duo of Michel “ewjerkz” Pinto and Rafael “arrozdoce” Wing. Swedish coach Richard “Xizt” Landström continues to oversee the team, while South Africa’s Gareth “MisteM” Ries and Denmark’s Kristian “k0nfig” Wienecke remain on the inactive roster.
