B8’s npl Targets CS Asia Championships Title After Playoff Run: “We’ve Worked a Lot, and It Pays Off”

B8 continued their impressive rise in the CS2 scene after securing a playoff spot at the CS Asia Championships 2026 (CAC 2026) in Shanghai. The Ukrainian roster defeated Ninjas in Pyjamas in their opener before taking down The MongolZ in a hard-fought three-map series to advance to the knockout stage.

Following the victory, B8 rifler Andrii “npl” Kukharskyi shared his thoughts in an interview with HLTV, emphasizing that the team’s recent success comes from months of intense preparation and practice.

“We’ve worked a lot, and it pays off. It’s great to see,” npl said.
Source: HLTV

The statement reflects B8’s growing confidence as the team continues to deliver strong performances against higher-ranked opposition in international CS2 tournaments.

B8 Defeat The MongolZ to Reach CAC 2026 Playoffs

B8 opened their campaign with a 13-9 victory over Ninjas in Pyjamas before facing one of Asia’s strongest teams, The MongolZ, in the upper bracket qualification match.

The series went the distance:

Ancient — B8 won 13-11

Nuke — The MongolZ won 13-11

Mirage — B8 won 13-9

npl delivered one of his best performances of the tournament on Mirage, finishing the decider with a 2.05 rating and over 108 ADR, helping B8 dominate the CT side with a 9-1 half.

Across the entire series, the former NAVI player posted a 1.50 rating, becoming one of the key reasons behind B8’s playoff breakthrough.

Related source: HLTV match report on B8 vs The MongolZ.

npl Believes B8 Can Win CAC 2026

Despite entering the event as underdogs compared to teams like Falcons and MOUZ, npl stated that B8 are aiming much higher than simply reaching playoffs.

“I feel that my team can win this tournament, and we will try to do it.”

The confidence comes after several months of visible improvement from the roster, which has steadily climbed the competitive CS2 rankings through consistent online and LAN performances.

B8 are now set to face MIBR in a crucial playoff match with a semi-final berth on the line.

s1zzi Emerging as B8’s Next CS2 Star

One of the biggest talking points surrounding B8 in recent months has been the rapid development of young AWPer Danylo “s1zzi” Vinnyk.

The 16-year-old talent has impressed during multiple international events, including IEM Atlanta 2026, where B8 eliminated FUT in convincing fashion. During that tournament, s1zzi delivered several important clutch rounds, including a decisive late 1v2 situation on Overpass.

npl previously praised his teammate’s potential in an earlier HLTV interview:

“He has the X-factor. If we want to become tier-one in the future, we need it.”

In the latest CAC 2026 interview, npl added that s1zzi has made “a huge amount of progress,” while suggesting the young sniper still has far more room to improve.

B8’s Growth Continues Ahead of the CS2 Major Season

B8’s recent form did not come out of nowhere. Earlier this year, the team successfully qualified for the IEM Cologne Major, marking another milestone for the organization’s long-term rebuild.

Speaking after Major qualification, npl explained that the team maintained a calm mentality throughout the process and trusted their development regardless of the outcome.

That mentality now appears to be translating into results against elite competition.

With victories over teams like The MongolZ, strong individual form from npl, and the emergence of s1zzi, B8 are increasingly becoming one of the most dangerous dark horses in competitive Counter-Strike 2.