Ninjas in Pyjamas (NIP) has officially announced the signing of 24-year-old Martin “stavn” Lund. In a surprising twist, the versatile Danish veteran will take on the role of primary AWPer, replacing Artem “r1nkle” Moroz on the starting lineup.
This major roster shuffle comes shortly after NIP’s heartbreaking failure to qualify for the IEM Cologne Major, which prompted the organization to bench r1nkle and completely restructure the team’s dynamic.
Return to competitive play
stavn steps back into the competitive arena after an eight-month hiatus. He previously stepped down from Astralis to prioritize his mental health and work through personal issues stemming from the tragic loss of his brother in 2021.
His arrival at NIP marks a massive reunion. He joins forces once again with former HEROIC teammate Rasmus “sjuush” Beck and coach Richard “Xizt” Landström, recreating the core of his most successful project to date.
Transitioning to the “Big Green”
While stavn has occasionally operated as a hybrid or secondary sniper in the past, taking the reins as a primary AWPer is a bold new chapter. A look at his career weapon statistics paints the picture of a dedicated rifler stepping into uncharted territory:
- AK47: 11,495 kills
- M4A1: 3,680 kills
- M4A1 Silencer: 3,462 kills
- AWP: 2,209 kills
- USP Silencer: 1,540 kills
- Deagle: 1,123 kills
- SG556: 922 kills
Despite a heavy reliance on rifles throughout his career, stavn has been putting in the grueling hours required to master the primary sniper role. He notably logged 46 games on FACEIT in April alone, producing several impressive Scout and AWP highlights that showcase his mechanical readiness for the position.
Solidifying the core
In addition to stavn’s signing, NIP confirmed they have officially made highly touted prospect Kacper “xKacpersky” Gabara’s loan from ENCE permanent. The Polish rifler quickly became the undeniable star of the struggling squad during his loan period. Securing his firepower on a permanent deal gives NIP a dangerous anchor to build their new roster around as they look ahead to the Singapore Major.
The complete Ninjas in Pyjamas roster is now:
- Marco “Snappi” Pfeiffer
- Rasmus “sjuush” Beck
- Kacper “xKacpersky” Gabara
- Artem “cairne” Mushynskyi
- Martin “stavn” Lund
- Richard “Xizt” Landström (Coach)
