NiP Re-Enter Major Invite Range With Roman Imperium Cup VI Trophy

Ninjas in Pyjamas secured a crucial tournament victory by winning HyperX Roman Imperium Cup VI, defeating OG in a dramatic grand final comeback. The victory proved pivotal for the team’s season, as it pushed them back into the Major invitation range in Valve’s ranking system and revived their hopes of qualifying for the upcoming IEM Cologne Major.

The event, a ranked LAN tournament held in Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal, featured 20 teams competing for a $13,941 prize pool from March 12-15.

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Grand Final Comeback Against OG

NiP lifted the trophy after reversing an early deficit in the grand final against OG. The European squad led by Marco “Snappi” Pfeiffer lost the opening map Overpass (7-13) before rallying with dominant performances on Nuke (13-3) and Dust2 (13-10) to close the series 2-1.

The final map featured a key highlight from Rasmus “sjuush” Beck, whose late quad-kill shut down OG’s comeback attempt and secured the title for NiP.

The victory marked NiP’s second Roman Imperium Cup title, following their earlier triumph at the tournament’s third edition in December. It also represented the roster’s first championship since adding Artem “cairne” Mushynskyi in January, signaling early success for the updated lineup.

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Playoff Run

NiP delivered a strong performance once the playoffs began, defeating several notable opponents on their way to the championship.

Playoff results

• Quarter-final: NiP 2-0 Gaimin Gladiators

• Semi-final: NiP 2-0 Alliance

• Grand final: NiP 2-1 OG

Against Alliance, NiP showed dominant form, winning 13-6 on Overpass and 13-4 on Nuke, with several players posting high ratings across the series.

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Group Stage Performance

Before reaching the playoffs, NiP finished the group stage with a 3-1 record. Their run included:

• A forfeit win over Iedopieca

• Victories against SAW and Voca

• A lone defeat to EYEBALLERS in a best-of-one match

The results secured them a playoff spot where they found much stronger momentum.

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Crucial Points for the Major Race

The Roman Imperium Cup VI victory carried significant ranking implications. NiP earned 97 VRS points, allowing the team to jump 11 positions in the global standings and move into 17th place on the predicted list for the final European Major invitation spot.

The result came at a critical moment for the roster. Earlier in the year, NiP had struggled for consistency and had slipped out of the Major invite range after disappointing results, including:

• An early exit at Roman Imperium Cup V

• A 2-3 finish in Stage 1 of ESL Pro League Season 23, with losses to Legacy and M80 and only modest point gains from wins against NRG and Gaimin Gladiators.

Those setbacks had placed their Major qualification hopes in jeopardy before this tournament run.

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A Timely Turnaround

By securing the Roman Imperium Cup VI trophy, NiP not only added another title to the organization’s history but also revitalized their competitive trajectory for 2026. The boost in ranking points brings them back into contention for the European Major invites, making the coming months critical as the race toward Cologne continues.

With renewed momentum and a recently adjusted roster, Snappi’s squad now faces the challenge of maintaining consistent results if they want to secure a place at the next Counter-Strike Major.