Ninjas in Pyjamas Eliminate Passion UA to Keep Their IEM Kraków 2026 Hopes Alive
Ninjas in Pyjamas Eliminate Passion UA to Keep Their IEM Kraków 2026 Hopes Alive
At Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) Kraków 2026, held in Kraków, Poland, Swedish organisation Ninjas in Pyjamas (NiP) secured a crucial elimination match victory against Passion UA to prolong their stay in the tournament and avoid early exit.
The clash took place on January 29, 2026, as part of the Stage 1 Play-in Lower Bracket, Round 1 of the CS2 competition. In a best-of-three series (BO3), NiP triumphed 2–1 over Passion UA, reversing momentum after dropping the opening map.
Match Summary: A Story of Comeback and Control
The contest opened on Overpass, where Passion UA came out strong. Demonstrating solid coordination and smart CT defense, the Ukrainian-region roster controlled the pace and methodically dismantled NiP’s offense, taking the map 13–8.
Facing elimination, NiP responded emphatically on Nuke. The Swedish side dominated from the start, executing a powerful T-side and carrying their momentum into the second half. NiP closed the map 13–5, showcasing their capability to reset mentally after a map loss. Star player cairne, a standout performer throughout, topped the scoreboard across the series.
The decider on Anubis was a tighter affair. NiP maintained early control, and although Passion UA mounted resistance, NiP’s discipline in post-plant situations and defense under pressure ultimately closed out the map 13–10.
Lineups and Standout Performers
Ninjas in Pyjamas:
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cairne – topped the series statistically and was key to NiP’s offensive rhythm.
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xKacpersky – also impactful, especially on Nuke with high-impact rounds.
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Snappi, r1nkle, sjuush – contributed in critical moments.
Passion UA:
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Kvem, Grim, hallzerk, JT, nicx – a mix of aggressive entries and clutch attempts, though ultimately unable to close out the series.
NiP’s balanced executions and effective mid-round decision-making in key rounds helped them withstand Passion UA’s structured offense.
What This Result Means for Both Teams
Ninjas in Pyjamas
With this win, NiP stays alive in IEM Kraków 2026 Stage 1, advancing to a matchup against BC.Game for a chance to secure a spot in the next stage of the event. This victory was essential — following an earlier loss in the tournament that had pushed NiP into the lower bracket.
NiP’s competitive history on the international CS2 stage is well established, although recent form has been mixed. Earlier in the event, they were unable to avoid the lower bracket after a defeat to Team Liquid, underscoring how pivotal today’s comeback was.
Passion UA
For Passion UA, this elimination marks the end of their IEM Kraków 2026 run. Despite a promising Overpass showing and strong tactical recovery in phases, they could not maintain consistency across the series.
The Ukrainian organisation has had notable recent results, including a standout 2–0 elimination victory over fnatic at the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 Stage 2 — a sign of their potential on LAN. However, they were unable to repeat that level of form here in Kraków.
Tournament Context: IEM Kraków 2026 Stage 1
The IEM Kraków 2026 event, with a $1,000,000 prize pool, features 24 of the world’s top CS2 teams competing in a mix of group and elimination formats.
Stage 1 uses a double elimination bracket — an unforgiving structure where a single loss often places teams under immense pressure to win or exit the tournament. Only the top squads progress to the next rounds after these early Stage 1 matchups.
Other elimination matches on the same day saw teams like B8 knocked out by paiN Gaming, while PARIVISION and 3DMAX moved forward in their respective brackets.
Looking Ahead
NiP’s next obstacle will be BC.Game, a strong opponent that advanced through their own lower bracket match. A win in that series would secure NiP a spot in Stage 2 of the tournament, keeping their title hopes alive.
For Passion UA, attention will likely shift to future CS2 events, where they will aim to build on their performance and maintain momentum — particularly after their previous upsets over traditionally stronger teams.
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