Flashpoint success shows our academy project is working

ztr’s future and LNZ to play IEM Summer

21 days of Flashpoint came to a conclusion on Sunday. We ended up grabbing silver, losing to Mousesports in the Grand Final in our first tournament with dev1ce on the roster. Grand Finalist, 1500 RMR points in the bag, and a lot of mesmerizing CS:GO coming from our Ninjas. We’re so damn proud of the team performing on this level already, giving the whole NIP family chills we haven't felt for a while.

We’re still trying to find the right format for our roster moving forward, currently running a four man core with a rotating slot filled from our academy program, Young Ninjas. Erik “ztr'' Gustafsson has been doing an amazing job in that spot since the start of the year. We have all seen the plays he’s able to make, the spirit he brings to the team, the will to improve and to become one of the very best. He’s a man for the future, a massive talent with an incredible work ethic. The journey Erik has taken so far, had him rise from the lower tiers of CS to consistently featuring in tier one tournaments - in just five months. It’s incredibly fast and we feel the right way to continue his pace of development is to change the environment around him a bit, and move him to Young Ninjas for the time being.

“Our commitment to building a sustainable performance culture that can continuously challenge for top titles over the next decade is something we take incredibly seriously. We want to give him time to further develop, without the pressure of having to deliver on the highest level instantly. Having such a strong foundation within Young Ninjas, giving us the option to allow further high quality development, but at a healthy pace is something I am really proud of. I believe the future of high performing esports teams is one where we are able to work more leniently around the five man roster concept, and for me this change is a strong indication that we are on the right path,” says Jonas Gundersen, Chief Operating Officer.

More of the young Ninjas 🇸🇪

Our faith in the academy project has been fortified by the incredible journey our Young Ninjas are on right now, breaking into the top 40 on the world rankings. For IEM Summer, we’re giving Linus “LNZ” Holtäng a shot on the main roster. LNZ has had a monstrous couple of months, performing on a very high level and we’ve seen dramatic improvements in his game.

Head Coach Björn “THREAT” Pers:

“Erik has contributed enormously to our recent success with great communication and energy, helping us to recover in dire moments. However, I believe he needs some more time to develop as a player, which is why we’ve decided to let him play with Young Ninjas. This opens up an opportunity for LNZ, a gifted player who has been on the rise in Young Ninjas, to try his fortune on the main roster.”

Classic

Shinobi Shozoku Hoodie, a premium product from the Ninjas in Pyjamas merch shop. This stylish and comfortable hoodie features the iconic Shinobi Shozoku design, making it a must-have for NIP fans who want to showcase their support for the team in a fashionable and trendy way.

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Flashpoint success shows our academy project is working

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