Ninjas in Pyjamas (NIP) has officially parted ways with Ukrainian AWPer Artem “r1nkle” Moroz, marking yet another roster shift for the legendary organization as they struggle to find their footing in top-tier Counter-Strike 2.
The announcement comes on the heels of a turbulent start to the 2026 season. After failing to qualify for the highly anticipated IEM Cologne Major, NIP’s ongoing struggles to remain competitive against Tier-1 opposition have been thrust back into the spotlight.
In a heartfelt statement posted to X (formerly Twitter), the organization thanked the young sniper for his dedication and reflected on his growth during his tenure with the team.
“From grinding VRS to qualifying to the major, r1nkle’s journey with us is one we won’t forget. All good things must come to an end, and today we say goodbye to @r1nkle1. Thank you for everything you’ve given to this team, both in and out of the server.”
A change in dynamics
As for the reasoning behind the roster move, NIP pointed to a necessary shift in team synergy rather than individual performance issues in a follow-up tweet.
“However, as a team, we feel the need to explore a different direction in terms of roles and dynamics within the roster. These kinds of decisions are never easy, especially when they involve someone who has given so much to the team.”
What’s next for NIP?
This roster change prolongs a difficult era for NIP. Once a dominant dynasty in the early days of Global Offensive, the organization has spent much of the CS2 era caught in a cycle of rebuilding phases and roster adjustments. Missing the IEM Cologne Major was a heavy blow for the squad, signaling that their current formula was simply not working against the world’s best.
By stepping away from r1nkle, NIP is signaling a deep structural pivot in how they want their team to operate moving deeper into 2026. While the organization has not yet announced who will step in to fill the AWPing void, they are already making aggressive moves to secure their core moving forward.
NIP recently bought out Kacper “xKacpersky” Gabara from his contract with ENCE to secure him on a permanent deal. The Polish rifler was originally loaned out to NIP and quickly became the undeniable star of the struggling squad. Given his massive firepower and ability to shine even when the team was underperforming, it would make perfect sense for NIP to build their new, restructured roster around him in the future.
