Ninjas in Pyjamas climbed out of the lower bracket to lift the Stake Ranked Episode 2 trophy, beating magic in a tense grand final and pocketing the $25,000 top prize. This is NIP’s first LAN crown since the arrival of stavn, and it arrives after a shaky run of results that had fans wondering if the roster had hit its stride.
Quick tournament timeline
| Date | Match | Score | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27/05/2026 | HEROIC vs Ninjas in Pyjamas | 0 : 2 | Upper Bracket |
| 28/05/2026 | Ninjas in Pyjamas vs Sharks | 2 : 0 | Upper Bracket |
| 29/05/2026 | magic vs Ninjas in Pyjamas | 2 : 0 | Upper Bracket Final |
| 30/05/2026 | Ninjas in Pyjamas vs FaZe | 2 : 0 | Lower Bracket |
| 30/05/2026 | magic vs Ninjas in Pyjamas | 1 : 2 | Grand Final |
How they got it done
NIP opened strong with straight-set wins over HEROIC and Sharks, but their run hit a wall when magic eliminated Marco ‘Snappi’ Pfeiffer’s men in a clean two-map upper-bracket clash on 29 May. That loss forced NIP into the lower bracket where they reset, beat FaZe and earned a rematch with magic in the final.
Mirage comeback
The grand final went the distance and decided on Mirage. NIP trailed 3-8 on the decider but ripped off a cold-blooded run to overturn the deficit and close out the series 2-1. That comeback was the difference between runner-up and champion, and it underlined NIP’s clutch DNA under pressure.
Key stats and facts
- Prize: $25,000 to the champions
- Tournament run: Undefeated until upper-bracket final, then lower-bracket recovery
- Deciding map: Mirage — NIP recovered from 3-8 to win
- VRS seeding: NIP entered as #35 in attendance, second-lowest among teams present
- LAN milestone: First LAN title with stavn on the roster
Context and consequences
This result feels like a course correction. NIP had stumbled at the CS Asia Championships, finishing last after losses to B8 and local side Lynn Vision. Coming into the Spanish event with a low Valve Regional Standings placement did not stop them from executing when it mattered.
Momentum matters in CS2 and NIP have it now. Bettors and odds-watchers will react fast, and those tracking lines on the fly—particularly on platforms like best CS2 gambling sites—should note how a single LAN win can swing markets overnight.
What to watch next
Expect NIP to lean into the confidence from this trophy. Their ability to scrape back from deficits and win clutch rounds on Mirage shows improved mid-match adjustments. Meanwhile magic proved a tough matchup, and other top teams will take notes on how to push NIP into early trouble again.
For Ninjas in Pyjamas the headline is simple: the roster now has a LAN title to validate the rebuild, and stavn finally has the silverware that was missing. This win changes the narrative around their season and gives fans and analysts a clearer picture of what this lineup can do under pressure.
