![NiP Xizt: “We were playing very afraid. […] (We) just didn’t show up. That’s it” cover image](https://admin.esports.gg/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/NiP-vs-AMKAL-968x544.jpg)
A very chaotic series ended with overtime on the final map.
NIP faced off against AMKAL in their opening match of the BLAST Premier Fall Showdown. With a brutal single-elimination format, it was do-or-die for both teams. And today, AMKAL came out ahead with a 2-1 victory over NiP. They will now go up against OG who had a surprise result of their own in the other opening match of the event.
NiP Xizt: “We just have to figure out how to play on LAN. usually, it’s the other way around when we have these young guns, but I would say we are struggling a little bit right now"
The first map of Inferno was a poor start for the Ninjas. They simply did not have any showing on the map, which they lost 3-13. For a team that looked somewhat promising in previous BLAST events, the 3-13 start on Inferno was particularly surprising. Inferno is a map that NiP are fluent in and have played on multiple occasions. But today, they simply did not show up.
Honestly, I don’t think they (AMKAL) have been running any strats at all. They were just taking the duels, searching for the duels and I think we played a bit afraid. Ofcourse, they have some good individuals, and as you said, we normally can play the map. But yeah, we didn’t play good today.
NiP took Ancient with a similar 13-3 score, a repeat of what AMKAL did to NiP. The comeback performance was a welcome relief for the team who had struggled on the first map. James Banks asked Xizt what he had told the team
Basically to loosen up a little bit. It felt very bit tense on that Inferno game. So yeah, basically loosen up, believe in yourself, take the duels, don’t doubt yourself. Just play our game basically. Yeah, I just tried to hype up the guys that they’re good at CS and stuff like that (laughs). They needed some confidence after that Inferno map.
The final map felt very scrappy and chaotic with both teams playing extremely poor. The lack of proper strategies meant that the teams were unable to impress others. However, NiP came out on the losing end, and Xizt had some thoughts to give on NiP’s performance.
"To be honest, it was very stressful. The way that we played, we lost two or maybe three 4v3s as CT. We played really good at the start but then we lost all advantages. We were playing very afraid, they could be mid, they could be A or they can be B. We were over–rotating, thinking a bit too much. And then we got to the T side, I think we had a few good situations, but we played way too scrappy and we were forcing way too many situations. Maybe having guns out when we should have the guns out. We were shuffling our grenades and things like that. And of course that would favor AMKAL, they were playing with their coach. This game really stinks, I think it was a bit embarrassing for us. I think We should have beaten them 9 out of 10 times, but just didn’t show up. That’s it."
The interviewer asked if this result was a one-off and whether it would be a learning experience for NiP. However, in all honesty, Xizt replied that the team has been struiggling a bit, especially when it comes to online events.
I would love to think so, but the truth is we’ve been struggling online. On LAN, we have had decent results and have mostly lost to really good teams. At BLAST, we took down FaZe, sure they were a bit broken at the time, but they’re still a solid team. We just have to figure out how to play on LAN. usually, it’s the other way around when we have these young guns, but I would say we are struggling a little bit right now.
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NIP stumble in the final lap
The series tone was set right from the get-go as NiP crashed out in the first map of Inferno. With a 3-13 loss on Inferno, things were looking bleak for NiP fans. Only one player, isaak, reached double digits on NiP as they struggled to get anything going on their CT side. AMKAL esports had excellent synergy and a great read of NiP’s game plan, which led them to a resounding victory on Inferno.
Things looked much better on the second map, where NiP had a clear say in how things went ahead. Ancient is one of the team’s strongest maps and they have even challenged some of the best squads on this map. And true to their style, NiP won Ancient with an equally impressive 13-3 score. For NiP fans, this was a great turnaround for the squad who had suffered a brutal defeat on Map 1.
The final map in the series was Vertigo, a map that NiP has had decent success with. Rez, however, turned up on the map clearly dominating his rivals. Despite a strong start in the first half, where NiP took the lead with a 7-5 score, and a couple of early rounds in the second half, NiP was unable to retain the lead. AMKAL made a phenomenal comeback in the second half managing to equal the score and ultimately taking the map in Overtime.
Despite AMKAL’s victory, the series itself was a comedy of errors, with both teams not performing at the tier of some of the other squads in the event. NiP played a poor game of Counter-Strike and so did AMKAL. But today, AMKAL came out slightly better.
Map Veto
- AMKAL removed Anubis
- Ninjas in Pyjamas removed Dust2
- AMKAL picked Inferno
- Ninjas in Pyjamas picked Ancient
- AMKAL removed Mirage
- Ninjas in Pyjamas removed Nuke
- Vertigo was left over
With this loss, the Ninjas are out of the tournament and will have to contemplate their next journey. Meanwhile, AMKAL will face off against OG in the second round of the match. OG took their victory over HEROIC in what was a surprising 2-0 victory in the opening match.
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