In an all-Swedish MLG Pro League Grand Final, Ninjas in Pyjamas bested Alliance, 2-1, taking the championship’s gold medal and $66,899 prize money. This is NiP’s first LAN final and first major title.
WE DID IT BOIZ!!!! @XGames #GONINJAS @NiPGaming pic.twitter.com/J2VQOp0vg5
— Adrian Kryeziu (@EraDota) June 7, 2015
Coming off of a disappointing TI5 European qualifiers run, Ninjas in Pyjamas and Alliance looked strong and full of confidence going into the MLG Pro League Grand Finals. Although Alliance might have seemed like the obvious favorites, NiP managed to secure the victory. Both teams will compete in the DreamLeague Season 3 LAN finals at Dreamhack Summer, between June 13-16.
Not very satisfied with today's games. But hey… We got silver!!! It's a step in the right direction. Ty for all the support 🙂
— Jonathan Berg (@LodaBerg) June 7, 2015
Ninjas in Pyjamas placed third at the MLG Pro League Season 1, in Columbus. Now, as the MLG Pro League Season 2 champions, the Swedish squad will almost certainly be featured in the MLG World Championships, at the end of the year.
Interestingly enough, out of the three teams directly invited to The International 5 that took part in the MLG Pro League Season 2 LAN finals, only one – Fnatic (Team Malaysia) managed to get onto the podium, while the other two – Virtus.Pro and Evil Geniuses, both finished last.
MLG Pro League LAN finals standings
After eight exciting best-of-one group stage matches, Summer’s Rift and Mousesports were eliminated. Neither of the teams were able to secure a single win during their matches. Ninjas in Pyjamas and Alliance ended the first day of the LAN finals topping their groups, undefeated.
Evil Geniuses fell to London Conspiracy in the best-of-one group decider. Virtus.Pro were also eliminated by Fnatic (formerly known as Team Malaysia) in the best-of-one game series.
Newly branded Fnatic made a great debut, securing a bronze medal, after besting Greek squad London Conspiracy, 2-0.
- 1st place: $66,899 – Ninjas in Pyjamas
- 2nd place: $41,812 – Alliance
- 3rd place: $25,087 – Fnatic
- 4th place: $16,725 – London Conspiracy
- 5th place: $8,362 – Virtus.Pro
- 6th place: $8,362 – Evil Geniuses
Ninjas in Pyjamas
Era, during his time in Fnatic
Photo Credits: navi-gaming.com
Ninjas in Pyjamas is a Swedish eSports organization, especially known for their Counter-Strike squad. In 2015, the organization expanded to Dota 2 by picking up Swedish team LAJONS, featuring former Fnatic player Adrian “Era” Kryeziu, as well as four other Swedish players.
LAJONS was founded in September 2014 for the Golden eSports League Season 2. Era parted ways with Fnatic following TI4, after some medical complications had caused controversy and a rift in the team’s professional relationship.
On February 23, 2015, NiP dropped Joel “Apemother” Larsson and picked up Linus “Limmp” Blomdin, also a former HON player. The Swedish team has had a strong presence in the European scene and has quickly formed a loyal fan base. Ninjas in Pyjamas have placed first in Alienware Area 51 Dota 2 Cup and Esportal Invitational 3, third at StarLadder Season XI, the Major All Stars Dota 2 tournament, and the MLG Pro League Season 1, and fourth at the D2CL Season 5 LAN finals.
The Swedish team failed to qualify for The International 5, after falling to Vega Squadron, 2:1, in the playoffs’ Lower Brackets. The MLG Pro League Season 2 Grand Finals is NiP’s first LAN finals and first major championship title.
The team has recently acquired Limmp’s brother, Rasmus “Chessie” Blomdin, as a coach.
Ninjas in Pyjamas roster
Adrian “Era” Kryeziu
Linus “Limmp” Blomdin
Jonas “joanssomfan” Lindholm
Simon “Handsken” Haag
Elias “Sealkid” Merta
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