Ninjas in Pyjamas launched their 1win Private Club Season 1 run with a convincing 2-0 triumph over 3DMAX, a squad fresh off tournament victory just 48 hours prior.
This marks only Karim "Krimbo" Moussa's second LAN appearance since assuming NIP's leadership mantle following Marco "Snappi" Pfeiffer's removal. The decision surprised many observers, considering his sole previous calling experience came during his BIG Academy stint. However, the German competitor insists the position suits him naturally.
"I've always sought deeper involvement in strategic aspects," Krimbo revealed. "Obviously I held the IGL role before joining BIG's main roster. The decision happened quite spontaneously — essentially finalized within a single day. But ultimately, I simply wanted to compete again."
Krimbo maintains a realistic perspective regarding the Singapore Major qualification battle, acknowledging that following just ten days of preparation, the roster remains "nowhere near polished."
"I don't completely understand each player's tendencies yet — like how stavn approaches clutch situations, for instance," he explained. "We're still learning one another. We recognize this reality, but that doesn't mean we'll accept defeats easily. We consistently push for victories while acknowledging our current circumstances and maximizing what we can achieve."
Regarding his predecessor, Krimbo expressed admiration: "I have tremendous respect for Snappi. His career achievements speak volumes, particularly with ENCE previously and NIP's initial rankings climb last year."
He believes his approach differs fundamentally: "The previous lineup played excessively structured and rigid, leaving minimal space for individual input or creativity. They rarely ran defaults. I can contribute balance here because NIP perhaps played too systematically, while BIG sometimes went too loose. I understand both extremes well."
Despite the organizational pressure and Major implications, Krimbo radiates confidence: "From the moment I joined, I experienced zero hesitation or anxiety about this responsibility. Yes, it's demanding, but that's precisely how it should be. Challenges keep it interesting rather than monotonous."
