The trend has constantly been UK CS having one sole representative in ESL Impact. Even though that fact hasn’t changed, for the first time Mia “aiM” Cooper has qualified for an ESL Impact Finals with NiP Impact.
Heading into Season 6 NIP Impact made waves by signing accomplished IGL Ksenia “vilga” Kluenkova. Best known for her time on Nigma Galaxy winning five consecutive ESL Impact trophies, vilga was naturally going to elevate NIP Impact.
vilga becomes a ninja (on trial)
NIP Impact was put into group B alongside favourites NAVI Javelins, who previously had played in three consecutive ESL Impact Grand finals, unfortunately losing to Imperial fe (Nigma Galaxy) each time. Even though the Polish team had gone international due to their poor result in the ESL Impact Season 5 Finals, people still put them as the team to take first place and qualify straight to Stockholm.
However, vilga had something to say about that. Missing out on ESL Impact Season 5 Finals with Fearless Cheetahs she was looking for redemption. No going back to the analyst desk for her.
The group’s two titans matched each other on the second week of gameplay, most people assumed that whoever won would take first place. NIP ended up winning the game but under some unfortunate circumstances: NAVI Javelins had to forfeit the third map of Anubis 7-10 down due to technical difficulties. Even though this wasn’t the way NIP wanted to win, they confirmed that they could win on Anubis after they picked into it against NAVI Javelins in the Tradeit League FE Masters Season 5 nine days later winning 13-9.
The rest of the season was smooth sailing and after four games played they knew they had qualified for the LAN finals. There was a slight hiccup against Let Her Cook in the final week, but that will be forgotten in the annals of time.
One remarkable note to add is Naomi “Nayomy” Janssen’s astronomical improvement between seasons five and six. The Dutch superstar has gone from a 1.07 HLTV rating to a crazy 1.37 in the regular season, marking her the third-highest-rated player in Europe. Certainly, this is a big reason as to why NIP Impact are making the trip to Stockholm.
This marks the first time that NIP as an organisation has had a team represented at the ESL Impact Finals since creating the project in September of 2022. But most importantly, the first time that a UK CS player will be present!
In Stockholm NIP Impact will be facing off against FlyQuest RED, Fluxo Demons, FUIRA fe, Imperial fe, DreamCatchers, BIG EQUIPA and NAVI Javelins.
THE NINJAS ARE GOING TO SWEDEN @NIPCS Impact have made it to the #ESLImpact Stockholm Finals!@vilgaCS@Qiyarahcs@Nayomy_cs@ramziiNCS@aiMCS2_@NaToSaphiX pic.twitter.com/WCAEzDhr5G
— ESL Impact (@ESLImpact) October 18, 2024
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