NiP’s cairne Hails Snappi’s Tactical Mastery After First Official Win: “He Can Call the Whole Round Two Seconds Before Freeze Ends”

 

NiP’s cairne Hails Snappi’s Tactical Mastery After First Official Win: “He Can Call the Whole Round Two Seconds Before Freeze Ends”

Ninjas in Pyjamas’ newest lineup showed flashes of promise at IEM Kraków 2026 Stage 1, and after securing their first official victory of the campaign, Ukrainian rifler **Artem “cairne” Mushynskyi spoke to HLTV about the team’s development and the influence of veteran in-game leader Marco “Snappi” Pfeiffer on their playstyle.

Cairne, who joined NiP over the winter transfer period to form a young rifling core alongside Kacper “xKacpersky” Gabara, acknowledged that the team’s first win—against **Passion UA at IEM Kraków Stage 1—came as a relief following a tough start to the season that included setbacks at BLAST Bounty and earlier matches in Kraków.

“We played like a different team,” cairne said, contrasting the win with their previous performances, adding that “yesterday was horrific.”

Talking about his new environment, the 23-year-old explained that adapting to international competition and communicating in English were challenges he was actively embracing, but also applauded how supportive his teammates have been in that process.

The centerpiece of cairne’s praise was focused on Snappi’s strategic leadership. The Dane, a 35-year-old veteran in the CS scene, has been NiP’s in-game leader throughout recent roster changes and played a pivotal role in guiding their tactical direction. Cairne described Snappi as:

“Like a fucking machine … he can call the whole round two seconds before freeze time ends. It feels crazy.”

This compliment underlines how NiP’s structure under Snappi has been evolving, particularly as the squad integrates its mix of youth and experience. Snappi’s outspoken nature and tactical focus are well-documented throughout his long career, which includes stops with multiple teams and a reputation for detailed mid-round planning.

The Ukrainian rifler also spoke positively about playing alongside xKacpersky, describing how they choose between ideas in the moment and execute the best plan as a unit.

Looking ahead, NiP were one win away from progressing to Stage 2 of IEM Kraków, set to take on BC.Game—a match cairne said he’d approach without “feelings or expectations,” focusing instead on playing their own game.

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Context on Ninjas in Pyjamas & Snappi

• Marco “Snappi” Pfeiffer is a long-time Danish in-game leader and CS veteran, currently 35 years old and leading NiP’s CS2 roster.

• NiP’s current international roster was assembled in early 2025 and includes a mix of veterans and young talents.

• The team’s recent results have been mixed, with roster hurdles and practice time impacting consistency, something Snappi has referenced in past interviews around preparation and performance.