Liquid eliminate NiP in thrilling BLAST Bounty Winter 2026 clash

The North American team Liquid secured a thrilling victory over the Swedish side Ninjas in Pyjamas in the BLAST Bounty Winter 2026, winning the series 2–1. The teams traded confident wins on their own map picks, while the outcome of the series was decided on Ancient, where Liquid showed resilience and closed out the game in overtime.

Map veto

1. Ninjas in Pyjamas removed Inferno
2. Liquid removed Overpass
3. Ninjas in Pyjamas picked Nuke
4. Liquid picked Mirage
5. Ninjas in Pyjamas removed Dust2
6. Liquid removed Anubis
7. Ancient was left over

Nuke (13:10 Liquid)

Liquid had a strong start on NiP’s map pick. Playing as CTs, the team quickly established control and successfully countered NiP ’s attempts to push Upper, preventing them from gaining momentum. Keith “NAF” Markovic was a key player, securing multi-kills in crucial rounds and helping Liquid convert rounds efficiently. NiP started well but failed to maintain consistency, giving Liquid the edge and the map win.

Mirage (13:8 NiP)

On Liquid’s pick, NiP returned the favor by taking control. The Swedish squad excelled on the T-side, with Marco “Snappi” Pfeiffer leading the pace and creating decisive advantages. Liquid struggled to respond to the aggressive playstyle, allowing NiP to claim a confident victory and tie the series.

Ancient (16:13 Liquid)

The decider map delivered the most drama. Liquid started strong, quickly building a 6:0 lead, but NiP fought back, with Rasmus “sjuush” Beck posting an impressive 4-kill with FAMAS to even the score at halftime. In the second half, both teams traded rounds evenly, until a spectacular ACE by Jonathan “EliGE” Jablonowski with UMP gave Liquid the momentum. The match went into overtime, where Liquid showed composure and secured the map 16:13.

Match MVP

Based on performance across all three maps, Jonathan “EliGE” Jablonowski was named MVP. He consistently delivered in crucial moments and demonstrated sharp aim and smart decision-making. His stats: 62-50, +3.59% Swing, 78.1% accuracy, and 1.42 rating.

Liquid advance in the BLAST Bounty Winter 2026 and continue their campaign with confidence, while NiP are eliminated from the event. The tournament runs from January 13 to 18, featuring 32 teams competing for 8 spots at the LAN finals in Malta.