Snappi on NIP’s Struggles in Officials: “We Needed Time” After Roman Cup Win

Marco “Snappi” Pfeiffer has opened up about Ninjas in Pyjamas’ inconsistent performances in early 2026, explaining that the team required time to adjust to the psychological differences between practice and official matches.

Following NIP’s victory at the Roman Imperium Cup VI, the Danish in-game leader emphasized that the issue was not purely tactical, but mental.

“We needed some time to figure out how people react differently in the officials.”

According to Snappi, players behave far more freely in practice, while official matches introduce pressure from expectations, results, and external scrutiny — often leading to more passive or hesitant decision-making.

Roman Cup Victory Boosts NIP’s Confidence and Major Chances

NIP’s win at Roman Imperium Cup VI was a crucial turning point in their season. While considered a lower-tier event, the tournament carried significant weight due to Valve Regional Standings (VRS) implications.

The team:

Finished 3-1 in the group stage

Defeated Gaimin Gladiators and Alliance in playoffs

Beat OG 2-1 in the grand final

The result pushed NIP back into contention for a Cologne Major invite, improving their ranking position and restoring confidence within the roster.

“Two Different Teams”: Practice vs Officials Problem

Snappi had previously addressed the same issue during ESL Pro League Season 23, where NIP started 0-2.

“We are two different teams in practice and official.”

This recurring problem highlights a common challenge in CS2: translating practice performance into official success. Snappi explained that players sometimes shift from playing to win, to playing not to lose — a critical difference at the highest level.

Roster Changes Slowed NIP’s Early Progress

NIP finalized their lineup in January with the addition of Artem “cairne” Mushynskyi, replacing ewjerkz. While the move increased firepower, it also forced role adjustments across the team.

This disrupted early momentum and made it harder to establish consistency.

Snappi previously noted the importance of unlocking key players:

“We needed to activate both r1nkle and xKacpersky.”

The team has shown flashes of that potential:

xKacpersky posted a 1.48 rating vs NRG at EPL

r1nkle delivered a 1.93 rating against Gaimin Gladiators

These performances suggest that NIP’s ceiling remains high despite inconsistent results.

Tier-2 Events Still Highly Competitive in VRS Era

Snappi also highlighted that playing outside tier-one events is far from easy. In today’s competitive ecosystem, teams are highly motivated due to ranking pressure and Major qualification stakes.

OG’s Alexandre “bodyy” Pianaro echoed this after reaching the Roman Cup final:

“We only had two or three days of practice.”

Despite limited preparation, OG nearly won the tournament — underlining the unpredictability and competitiveness of these events.

Why Tier-One Stability Still Matters

Snappi admitted that players prefer tier-one tournaments due to:

More stable schedules

Better preparation conditions

Improved work-life balance

He pointed out that consistent top-tier participation allows players to perform at a higher level while maintaining structure in their daily routines.

What’s Next for NIP?

With momentum from their Roman Cup victory, NIP now turn their attention to BLAST Open Rotterdam 2026.

The key question remains:
Can they translate their improved form into consistent results in tier-one competition?

If Snappi’s squad continues to improve their approach to official matches, they could solidify their position in the Major race and re-establish themselves among CS2’s top teams.