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.

Ten Counter-Strike 2 stars jumped into a fan-service special that actually delivered on the hype. Billed as “The Most Stacked CS2 PUG of All Time,” ESL’s All-Star draft put Team m0NESY against Team donk. On the server, though, it was Team kyousuke that ran away with it, closing 13–6 on Mirage with real ±100 FACEIT Elo at stake.

The line-ups and the draft that swung it

The captains were decided by FACEIT ELO, which meant m0NESY had first pick. He chose NiKo, leaving kyousuke to snap up donk and ZywOo in quick succession. The full squads were:

• Team kyousuke: kyousuke, ZywOo, donk, frozen, Wicadia
• Team m0NESY: m0NESY, NiKo, ropz, b1t, Senzu

A standard veto left Mirage. From there, kyousuke’s five had the confidence and firepower to dictate pace.

The key beats on Mirage

• donk top-frags with 20 kills and 12 deaths, bullying mid and entries with trademark tempo.
• ZywOo steals rounds with late-round reads and tidy clutches, including sharp decisions around kitchen and short.
• Wicadia surprises with impact plays and well-timed swings that kept momentum on kyousuke’s side.

“Do this every EPL”  the community loved it

Reactions across YouTube and Reddit were overwhelmingly positive, and a big chunk of the discourse asked ESL to make this a regular feature.

• “Lowkey the best showmatch I’ve seen. Stacked teams, serious CS, great vibes.”
• “Finally, a proper All-Star for CS, like the NBA or NHL.”
• “Watching donk and ZywOo together feels like Messi and Ronaldo on the same side.”
• “Big W, ESL production. This should be a regular thing.”
• “Even NiKo thinks m0NESY was crazy not to pick donk or ZywOo.”
• “Comms were elite from ZywOo, donk and m0NESY. That’s what it takes at the top.”

It wasn’t just the highlight reels. Viewers loved the personality on show, donk joking with kyousuke, ZywOo hyping frozen, and wholesome post-round banter. One comment thanked m0NESY “for letting donk and ZywOo be on the same team,” while another teased that Falcons were “testing new team combinations.”

Image via ESL FACEIT Group

Why the format worked

• Real stakes: The ±100 FACEIT Elo twist kept it competitive.
• Super-team novelty: Rivals sharing sides gave us chemistry and comms we rarely get in officials.
• Broadcast polish: ESL’s pace, observing and sound bites made it feel premium without losing the fun.

The result

Team kyousuke beat Team m0NESY 13–6 on Mirage, with donk leading the server and ZywOo adding class in the clutch. If the community gets its way, this won’t be a one-off. The message is clear: run the ESL All-Star again, keep the draft, and let the fans feast.

kyousuke + donk + ZywOo got a victory in the showmatch against m0NESY + b1t + NiKo, with donk top fragging 20 kills on 12 deaths.

Teams played classic Mirage, for the victory kyousuke’s team got 100 FACEIT Elo each, while m0NESY’s lost 100 Elo each. pic.twitter.com/NS5PGHKX7b

— CS2 NEWS (@CS2News_EN) October 9, 2025

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