Stavn returns to play: former Astralis rifler joins NiP as AWPer after 8 months inactive

On April 15, Ninjas in Pyjamas announced a significant roster change. Ukrainian sniper Artem “r1nkle” Moroz has been moved to the bench, with his spot taken by former Astralis player Martin “stavn” Lund.

This move comes as a surprise, as stavn returns to professional Counter-Strike after an 8-month break — and immediately transitions into a new role.

The current Ninjas in Pyjamas lineup is:

• Martin “stavn” Lund

• Kacper “xKacpersky” Gabara

• Artem “cairne” Mushynskyi

• Rasmus “sjuush” Beck

• Marco “Snappi” Pfeiffer

• Richard “Xizt” Landström (coach)

The biggest storyline of this transfer is the role change. During his time in Astralis, stavn played as a rifler and was known for his consistency across multiple seasons. However, in Ninjas in Pyjamas, he will take on the responsibilities of a primary AWPer.

The stats raise some concerns: over the past three years, Lund has recorded just 138 kills with the AWP — a very limited sample for a player now expected to fill a key role. This suggests NiP are betting more on his game sense and raw skill than on proven experience with the sniper rifle.

BC.Game Benches MUTiRiS and aragornN Amid Roster Changes

Martin “stavn” Lund stepped down from the active Astralis roster around eight months ago, citing a need to focus on his health. At the time, he was replaced by Emil “Magisk” Reif.