JACKZ leaves NIP after wildcard eligibility expires

French esports player Audric “JACKZ” Jug has officially left Ninjas in Pyjamas (NIP) after losing his wildcard eligibility.

Wildcard Expiration and Valve Rule Changes

NIP previously used JACKZ’s ranking history with Vitality to gain wildcard invitations to CCT closed qualifiers, meeting Valve’s eligibility criteria. However, recent Valve regulation changes reduced the required top-8 ranking period from 12 to 6 months, making JACKZ ineligible as of February 25, 2025.

JACKZ’s Performance with NIP

During his time with NIP, JACKZ participated in five CCT closed qualifiers, replacing Rafael “arrozdoce” Wing. The team struggled to advance, finishing with a 6-8 win-loss record. JACKZ expressed disappointment with the results, citing a lack of training and difficulty adapting to NIP’s playstyle.

Impact on NIP and Future Challenges

Following JACKZ’s departure, NIP is ranked 158th in Valve’s global standings, reducing their chances of receiving direct tournament invitations. The organization, alongside 22 other teams, has criticized Valve’s new 2025 competitive structure, highlighting concerns over ranking-based invitations.

To rebuild their standing, NIP must now rely on open qualifiers. Their next challenge will be the PGL Bucharest closed qualifier, which they entered after securing a spot through an open qualifier victory.

Current NIP Roster:

🔹 Marco “Snappi” Pfeiffer
🔹 Rasmus “sjuush” Beck
🔹 Artem “r1nkle” Moroz
🔹 Michel “ewjerkz” Pinto
🔹 Rafael “arrozdoce” Wing

Coach: Richard “Xizt” Landström

NIP aims to rebuild their ranking and achieve stronger performances in upcoming CS2 tournaments.