Ninjas in Pyjamas Qualify for BLAST Open Spring 2026

In a key step toward one of the biggest Counter-Strike 2 events of the spring, Swedish esports organization Ninjas in Pyjamas (NiP) successfully clinched a spot in the upcoming BLAST Open Rotterdam 2026 event by winning a high-stakes online qualifier this weekend. 

The qualification came through RES Showdown 3: BLAST Premier Rising Event, an online European CS2 tournament that served as one of the open routes into the main BLAST Open event. This “Premier Rising” qualifier featured a double-round format in which several respected European teams competed for a single invitation spot to the BLAST Open Rotterdam main event. 

On February 8, 2026, NiP secured their berth by defeating GamerLegion in the final of RES Showdown 3. The best-of-three series was competitive, with NiP ultimately winning 2–1 on maps including Nuke and Ancient, showcasing resilience and tactical depth.  Prior to reaching the final, NiP had also taken down M1X KS 2-1 on February 7, and earlier in the event edged past Gentle Mates 2–1 in the quarter-finals on February 6, further proving that the squad was in strong form throughout the week. 

Thanks to this result, NiP will now participate in BLAST Open Spring 2026 — a major offline Counter-Strike 2 tournament scheduled to take place in Rotterdam, Netherlands from March 18 to 29, 2026. The event, organized by BLAST Premier, has a total prize pool of around $1,100,000 and invites 16 teams worldwide, including those who qualified through open circuits like RES Showdown. 

The BLAST Open series is one of the highest-tier competitive circuits in CS2. After Valve changed the esport ecosystem in 2025 by abolishing BLAST’s partner league structure, more teams earned their places in premier events through qualifiers like RES Showdown or by global rankings, making Silver and Bronze qualification paths more meaningful than ever. 

NiP’s journey to Rotterdam marks an important milestone for the organization in 2026. While the team has a long historical legacy — dating back to its founding in 1999 and legendary dominance in early Counter-Strike — its modern CS2 lineup has had mixed results in Tier-1 competition. The current NiP roster features Snappi, sjuush, r1nkle, xKacpersky, and cairne, a blend of seasoned players and emerging talents. According to BLAST.tv’s team overview, NiP sits around 30th in the global Valve Regional Standings (VRS), an indicator of mid-tier status among professional CS2 teams. 

Leading up to the qualifier, NiP also competed in other online events. For example, earlier in January, they played in BLAST Bounty 2026 Season 1, where they faced teams like Team Liquid but fell short of deeper progression. These matches provided valuable competitive experience ahead of the RES Showdown tournament, even if results were inconsistent. 

The qualification to BLAST Open Rotterdam is significant not just for NiP’s 2026 season results but also for regional pride: historically, Swedish Counter-Strike teams have been major contenders in international competition, and NiP themselves claimed one of the game’s most iconic trophies — the 2014 Intel Extreme Masters event in Cologne — in earlier stages of the franchise’s long history. 

Looking forward, NiP will face a tougher bracket in Rotterdam, where they will meet alongside top names in CS2 global competition. The BLAST Open event’s main field typically includes both established powerhouse teams and rising challengers — meaning NiP will likely be tested from the group stage onward when the tournament kicks off in March. 

Overall, Sunday’s qualification represents a critical rebound for NiP. After a couple of less-favourable outcomes in early 2026 series, advancing to BLAST Open Erasmus underscores their potential to compete at a high level across Valve’s flagship CS2 landscape heading into one of the busiest months of the competitive calendar.