Maden Named Stand-In for Ninjas in Pyjamas at Roman Imperium Cup III — Full Context and Background

Maden Named Stand-In for Ninjas in Pyjamas at Roman Imperium Cup III — Full Context and Background

Ninjas in Pyjamas (NiP) have confirmed that Pavle “Maden” Bošković will serve as a temporary stand-in for the team at the upcoming Roman Imperium Cup III in Portugal, marking NiP’s final event of the 2025 competitive calendar. The Montenegrin rifler will fill in for Michel “ewjerkz” Pinto, who was benched by NiP on December 11, 2025, part of a recent roster adjustment by the Swedish organization. 

At 27 years old, Maden’s return to active competitive play alongside NiP reunites him with Marco “Snappi” Pfeiffer, his former long-time teammate from ENCE and Falcons. The pair previously competed together for nearly three years — from January 2022 until November 2024 — during which time they helped ENCE win IEM Dallas 2023, one of the most prestigious CS2 events of that period. 

Maden’s Career and Recent Form

Pavle “Maden” Bošković has been active in the professional Counter-Strike scene since around 2016 and is widely recognised as one of the more experienced riflers from the Balkan region. Despite not always being in the limelight of the global elite tier, Maden has built a solid reputation over the years for consistent fragging capability and a mature playstyle. 

Most recently, Maden’s contract with Zero Tenacity expired in November 2025, leaving him a free agent prior to this stand-in opportunity. During his time with Zero Tenacity — which he joined in May 2025 — he maintained a 1.08 HLTV rating over 140 maps, covering a mix of online competitions and two LAN events: DraculaN Season 2, where the team finished in fourth place, and the Betclic Summer 2025 event, finishing tied for 5th–8th place. 

What This Means for NiP

NiP’s decision to bring in Maden comes amid broader roster movement, most immediately the benching of ewjerkz, whose status with the organization has been uncertain since early December. The adjustment opens up a key rifling slot for NiP as they prepare for action at the Roman Imperium Cup III from December 19–21, 2025 in Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal, where they will compete in a 16-team GSL group stage followed by a single-elimination playoff bracket for the top eight teams. 

Joining Snappi and Maden in the NiP lineup will be:

• Rasmus “sjuush” Beck — Danish rifler known for his reliable utility usage and consistency.

• Artem “r1nkle” Moroz — A Ukrainian player with a growing reputation for aggressive entry fragging.

• Kacper “xKacpersky” Gabara — A promising young Polish talent whose impact rifling and entry fragging have made him a strong presence in the team. 

• Richard “Xizt” Landström — Veteran Swedish coach, guiding the squad’s strategic approach.

With this lineup NiP remains a formidable contender in a diverse field of participants at Roman Imperium Cup III — a Valve Tier 2, C-Tier LAN tournament organised by KKM that features 16 teams competing for a modest prize pool but meaningful competitive practice ahead of larger 2026 events. The tournament’s format consists of an initial group stage based on the GSL system, followed by best-of-three single-elimination brackets in the playoffs. 

Broader Competitive Context

The timing of this stand-in comes at a point in the CS2 calendar where many teams are testing alternative lineups and preparing for the upcoming year. Tier 2 and regional events such as Roman Imperium Cup III serve as valuable opportunities for teams and players to gain LAN experience and sharpen synergy. Meanwhile, NiP — a historically storied organisation especially renowned in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive’s early Major era — continues to seek stability and performance improvements within its CS2 rosters. 

Maden’s addition may also function as a showcase for his talent as a free agent, potentially influencing transfer conversations in early 2026 should he perform well at the event. Given his past achievements alongside Snappi and strong outing statistics in 2025 with Zero Tenacity, his presence adds both experience and firepower to Ninjas in Pyjamas’ campaign in Portugal.