A Legendary Reunion for NIP Fans Worldwide
Swedish esports giants Ninjas in Pyjamas (NIP) are marking their 25th anniversary in true Counter-Strike style, bringing together some of the most iconic names in their history for a one-of-a-kind showmatch. The special event, presented by Rainbet, will see NIP legends reunite to face off against the organisation’s current CS2 and NIP Impact rosters in an unforgettable celebration of the team’s legacy.

November 5th. In Stockholm.

More to come.

— NIP CS (@NIPCS) October 24, 2025

The 25th Anniversary Showmatch takes place on November 5th at 5 PM BST (6 PM CET / 4 PM UTC / 5 AM NZDT, November 6th), live from Stockholm’s Red Bull Gaming Sphere. Fans can watch the action unfold on NIP’s official YouTube and Twitch channels, as well as on f0rest and GeT_RiGhT’s personal Twitch streams.

The Return of Counter-Strike Legends

The anniversary event will bring back two of NIP’s most legendary figures, Patrik “f0rest” Lindberg and Christopher “GeT_RiGhT” Alesund. The pair were instrumental during NIP’s golden era, which saw the team dominate the early 2010s Counter-Strike scene. Together, they hold the record for the longest win streak in CS history, achieving 87 consecutive victories from August 2012 to April 2013, and later clinching the ESL One: Cologne Major trophy in 2014.

“I’m looking forward to celebrating this significant milestone for NIP alongside my former teammates from over a decade ago,” said f0rest, who now serves as a Brand Ambassador for the organisation. “Together we achieved a Major title and a win record that still stands today. It’s now time to prove that we have still got it against some of the best players in the world, who proudly represent NIP today.”

More fan-favourite veterans are set to be revealed in the coming days, teasing what could be one of the most nostalgic lineups in Counter-Strike history.

Facing Today’s Generation of Ninjas

Taking on the old guard will be the current Ninjas in Pyjamas CS2 roster, featuring Rasmus “sjuush” Beck, Artem “r1nkle” Moroz, and Kacper “xKacpersky” Gabara. Representing the organisation’s women’s division, Ksenia “vilga” Klyuenkova and Mia “aiM” Cooper from NIP Impact will also join the fray.

“It’s going to be a lot of fun playing against some of the all-time greats,” said sjuush. “It’s a huge honour to be part of NIP’s 25th anniversary and to go head-to-head with the players who helped build this organisation’s legacy.”

Format, Broadcast, and Fan Experience

The showmatch will be a best-of-three (BO3) series, but NIP has a little surprise in store. If one side sweeps the other 2-0, fans will still get a bonus match featuring a mixed roster of current and legendary players.

The Swedish organisation has promised that the broadcast will include top-tier commentary and analysis, with the on-air talent to be revealed soon.

For those lucky enough to be in Stockholm, NIP will also host a limited-capacity watch party at the Red Bull Gaming Sphere. The event will be free to attend, though tickets will be limited, with more details to come via NIP’s social channels.

A Celebration 25 Years in the Making

Founded in 2000, Ninjas in Pyjamas have become synonymous with Counter-Strike excellence, helping to shape the competitive FPS scene across multiple generations of the game, from CS 1.6 and Global Offensive, to today’s Counter-Strike 2.

As f0rest and GeT_RiGhT step back into the server one more time, fans will get to relive an era that defined esports greatness, while witnessing the new wave of Ninjas continuing the legacy.

With nostalgia, rivalry, and history all coming together, the NIP 25th Anniversary Showmatch is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated Counter-Strike events of the year.

The post Ninjas in Pyjamas Celebrate 25 Years of Counter-Strike with Epic Showmatch in Stockholm appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

In the fast-moving world of Counter-Strike 2 (CS2), few stories grab attention quite like Danil “donk” Kryshkovets. At only 18, the Russian rifler for Team Spirit has smashed his way into esports history by picking up his 10th MVP medal at the BLAST Bounty Season 2 Finals. The milestone came after Spirit’s dominant 3-0 clean sweep over The MongolZ in the grand final, adding another trophy to their collection following their IEM Cologne triumph earlier this year.

donk wins his 10th MVP at BLAST Bounty S2 https://t.co/ugAxJTHdmT

— HLTV.org (@HLTVorg) August 17, 2025

But what makes donk’s run so jaw-dropping isn’t just the number itself, it’s the pace. He’s racking up MVPs faster than legends who defined the game, sparking the big question: are we looking at CS2’s next untouchable superstar?

The Path to Victory: Spirit’s BLAST Bounty Masterclass

Team Spirit’s BLAST Bounty campaign was a showcase of teamwork backed by individual brilliance. Wins over heavyweights like MOUZ in the semis and a commanding grand final against The MongolZ cemented their dominance. Still, it was donk who stole the spotlight, posting a tournament-best rating, dropping multi-kills left and right, and turning rounds on their head with clutch plays and entry frags.

What stood out most was his self-sufficient style. Even though Spirit sat near the bottom of the playoff teams in flash assist stats, donk still thrived. Analysts pointed out that his ability to generate kills without much support makes him deadly in any setup.

It’s just so untrue, they have the worst flash assist of all the playoff teams in Cologne, and the 5th worst in the tournament.

Some people really want an unsung hero propping up a star player. Sometimes there is. With Donk that just isn’t the case. He is given lots of room to… pic.twitter.com/ngfUAxeL5f

— Harry (@JustHarryGG) August 5, 2025

This victory marks Spirit’s second straight trophy of 2025, with donk collecting his fourth MVP of the season. Fans and pros flooded X with reactions: “Spirit back-to-back. Donk 10 MVP with 2 years of high-level career,” one post read. Another put it bluntly: “Congrats Spirit, they were clearly better… Donk, 1 year and a half as pro, titles and MVP at Major, Katowice and Cologne.”

Breaking Records: Donk vs. the Legends

To really appreciate donk’s 10th MVP, you have to stack it up against the all-time greats. He now equals CS:GO icons GeT_RiGhT and kennyS on 10 MVPs, while moving past NiKo’s nine. Only three players sit above him: device with 19, s1mple with 21, and ZywOo out in front with 27.

‼️ donk earns his 10th MVP: he’s now on par with CS:GO legends! pic.twitter.com/W7vtALgB0m

— CS2 NEWS (@CS2News_EN) August 17, 2025

The kicker? Donk reached this milestone in just 661 days since his debut at an MVP-eligible event. That’s faster than device (1,976 days), s1mple (1,977), and kennyS (1,809), and only slightly behind ZywOo’s 649-day sprint. Only GeT_RiGhT did it faster at 576 days, but that includes his CS 1.6 years, where MVPs were handed out under very different systems.

📅🏅 Time it took players to win their 10th HLTV MVP:

ZywOo – 649 days after debut at his first event that offered HLTV MVP
donk – 661
device – 1976
s1mple – 1977
kennyS – 1809

GeT_RiGhT – 576 days, but he started in 1.6 and could win there too if there were any

— EllanarkJesus (@EllanarkJesus) August 17, 2025

Unlike s1mple, who spent years refining his craft at NAVI, donk arrived fully loaded. Since joining Spirit’s main roster in mid-2023, he’s racked up MVPs at tier-one events, including the Shanghai Major in 2024, where he was crowned player of the year. His style is raw aggression and adaptability, flourishing in Spirit’s looser system.

Donk delivered superstar level performance in the most important map of his career, decider of a Major final.

I officially admit it , he is the best player of 2024, there is no more debate.

Congrats Team Spirit!

— Aleksandar Trifunovic (@kassad) December 15, 2024

By contrast, ZywOo’s road was one of consistent excellence with Vitality, while device built his tally across a marathon career with Astralis, overcoming health struggles and team rebuilds. KennyS and GeT_RiGhT helped define earlier eras with AWP wizardry and leadership. Donk? He’s pure firepower: high ADR, relentless multi-kills, and game-changing momentum shifts, like his 23-frag performance against top AWPers last year.

Surrounded by AWPers but not defeated

Spirit’s donk is the highest-rated player of the BLAST Spring Final ahead of the start of the playoffs 🔝🐉 pic.twitter.com/hjV1q2dmIo

— HLTV.org (@HLTVorg) June 14, 2024

Looking Ahead: A New Era in the Making

Donk’s 10th MVP isn’t just another medal, it’s a marker of a potential shift in CS2’s hierarchy. With Team Spirit in top form and donk leading the charge, more silverware seems almost inevitable. His on-camera confidence, like the cheeky “yapping” during semis, only adds to the growing aura.

The big question now isn’t whether he’ll break more records, but how many. In a game where greatness usually comes from years of grinding, donk’s rapid dominance, accelerating even s1mple’s and ZywOo’s timelines, suggests we might be witnessing the rise of CS2’s next era-defining legend.

Image Credit: @brcho_ and HLTV.org

Will he surpass them all? Right now, the CS2 world is buzzing with one answer: probably.

The post donk’s 10th MVP: Outpacing s1mple, ZywOo and the CS2 Legends at Just 18 appeared first on Shane the Gamer.