Ninjas in Pyjamas Win Stake Ranked Episode 2 After Stunning Lower Bracket Run

Champions From the Lower Bracket

Ninjas in Pyjamas are the Stake Ranked Episode 2 champions, claiming $25,000 and the title after one of the most dramatic runs of the season. Dropped to the lower bracket after a crushing 0-2 defeat to magic in the Upper Bracket Final, NiP refused to fold - battling back through FaZe Clan and meeting magic again in the Grand Final, this time winning 2-1 in a match that went the distance.

Dominant Through the Upper Bracket

NiP opened the tournament in ruthless fashion. On 12:30 UTC they dismantled HEROIC 2-0, taking Nuke 13-7 before winning Mirage 13-9 - the Danes' own map pick. The following day brought Sharks, who fared no better: NiP swept 2-0 again, winning Ancient 13-7 and closing out on Nuke 13-5.

Two matches, four maps, zero dropped. NiP looked like heavy favourites heading into the Upper Bracket Final.

A Setback Against magic

magic had other ideas. In the Upper Bracket Final on 15:00 UTC, they handed NiP their first real test - and passed it emphatically. Ancient went 13-9 to magic, and then came the gut punch: Mirage, NiP's own map pick, was surrendered 13-2. It was a brutal send-off to the lower bracket.

The Lower Bracket Road Back

Waiting in the Lower Bracket Final was FaZe Clan, who had clawed through the bracket themselves. The match on 13:00 UTC was tense from the first round. NiP took FaZe's map pick, Ancient, 13-11 in a closely fought opener, then edged Nuke 13-10 to seal a 2-0 series. Both maps could have gone either way - NiP's composure made the difference.

Grand Final: Redemption on Mirage

The Grand Final rematch against magic was everything the tournament deserved. NiP drew first blood on their Anubis pick, winning 13-11 in a measured, controlled performance. magic hit back hard on Ancient - the map that defined their tournament - routing NiP 13-6 to level the series and force a decider.

That decider was Mirage. The same map magic had won 13-2 just 24 hours earlier. This time NiP flipped the script entirely, grinding out a 13-11 victory to claim the title. A remarkable mental reset from a team that refused to let history repeat itself.

magic's Tournament Was Special

NiP deserve full credit for the title, but magic's run deserves its own moment of recognition. They came through the closed qualifier just to reach the main event, and then proceeded to reach the Grand Final - beating NiP convincingly along the way. This wasn't a fluke either. magic had already turned heads at PGL Astana, and this performance confirms that showing was no one-off. A team that qualified through the hard route, went toe-to-toe with the best in the field, and pushed the eventual champions to three maps in the final - that is a genuinely impressive campaign.

Final Standings

1st - Ninjas in Pyjamas - $25,000
2nd - magic - $17,500
3rd - FaZe - $13,500
4th - Sharks - $11,000
5th-6th - Alliance, 9z - $9,000 each
7th-8th - 3DMAX, HEROIC - $7,500 each