“Xizt to miss PGL Masters Bucharest 2025”

“Xizt to miss PGL Masters Bucharest 2025”

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Announcement: Xizt will miss Bucharest

On 24 October 2025, Swedish coach Richard “Xizt” Landström publicly confirmed that he will not travel with his team, Ninjas in Pyjamas (NIP), to the PGL Masters Bucharest 2025 event in Romania, due to paternity leave. 
In a personal post on X, the coach wrote:

“We’re expecting our first baby soon ❤️ Won’t be traveling to PGL Bucharest to spend some time at home with the little one on the way.” 

This confirms that Xizt’s absence is for family reasons rather than performance, injury, visa or roster-related issues.

Team context: NIP heading into Bucharest

NIP head into the tournament with a full roster, but the coaching staff will undergo a temporary change given Xizt’s absence. Despite this shift, the team is scheduled to begin their campaign at the PGL Masters Bucharest 2025 on 26 October against HEROIC at 12:00 (UTC) in the opening Swiss round. 
The event itself features 16 invited teams, a Swiss-format group stage followed by single-elimination playoffs, and a prize pool of US$1,250,000. 

Xizt’s role and history

Xizt is a veteran of Counter-Strike with deep experience both as a pro player and coach. At age 34, he currently serves as the head coach of Ninjas in Pyjamas.
Since he stepped into the coaching role, NIP have had notable results, including finishing as runners-up at the StarLadder StarSeries Fall 2025. 
The absence of a head coach—even one more on the strategic side than the in-game leadership—can impact team preparation, veto strategy, stand-in management and overall readiness.

Implications of his absence

For NIP’s performance

• Without Xizt physically present, NIP will rely on their analysts and support staff to fulfil the coaching role on site. Team synergy and communication must hold up under pressure.

• The timing is critical—NIP have not competed since their strong run at StarLadder, and advancing through a major Swiss group with full strength will require stability. The coach’s absence introduces a variable.

• Opponents may see this as an opportunity: in high-stakes matches every edge counts, and lack of full coaching presence can be a marginal disadvantage.

For the tournament and roster landscape

• The news adds to a string of absences and changes heading into Bucharest. It follows the announcement that some top-10 teams opted out entirely due to scheduling conflicts and strategic priorities.

• Additionally, other teams have experienced absences: for instance, Klimentii “kl1m” Krivosheev of MIBR will miss the event due to visa issues.
  As such, Xizt’s personal withdrawal is part of a broader picture where event-rosters and teams’ staff appearances differ from the norm.

What remains to be seen

• Who will cover coaching duties on site: NIP will need to determine who will fulfil Xizt’s tactical and logistical responsibilities—whether an assistant coach, analyst, or a promoted staffer.

• Team performance under the altered setup: Will NIP maintain their strategic cohesion and map pool flexibility with the current staff structure? Their match versus HEROIC will serve as an early indicator.

• Long-term effect: While this is a short-term absence for family reasons, it may lead to reflections on how teams accommodate coaching continuity when personal circumstances arise, especially in a global competitive schedule.

Final thoughts

In much of esports, coaching presence at LAN events is often taken for granted—but the absence of a head coach like Xizt underscores how integral the supporting structure is behind a team’s success. For Ninjas in Pyjamas, the heading into Bucharest without their lead coach adds a layer of complexity but is by no means insurmountable: the team has proven forms and a roster capable of competing at the top level. Whether they can execute smoothly without Xizt on the ground remains to be seen, but fans and analysts alike will be watching closely as the tournament unfolds.