Making tough calls is part of the game, especially in high-stakes esports. The renowned Ninjas in Pyjamas (NIP), a name long etched in Counter-Strike history, just pulled out of the upcoming Fragadelphia Blocktober 2025 tournament. This decision, announced on X (formerly Twitter) last Thursday, comes down to one clear goal: prepping for the next big Major.
NIP has been a major player in Valve’s First Person Shooter (FPS) scene since 2005, even snagging a Major title along the way. But the team decided that diving into Fragadelphia, which kicks off this Saturday, just wouldn’t help. Logistics played a big part in their choice.
“We regret that we will not participate in the next edition of Fragadelphia,” NIP stated. “This decision was not made easily, and yesterday we informed the organizers directly.”
The organization detailed the reasoning behind their move. “After closely monitoring the results and outcomes of the VRS, we believe this is the best decision for our team, allowing our players to fully focus on the Major,” the statement continued. “Ongoing visa challenges, which already prevented Rinkle from participating in the previous Fragadelphia, also influenced this decision.”
Update regarding the upcoming Fragadelphia pic.twitter.com/JTf19af6IA
— NIP CS (@NIPCS) October 2, 2025
NIP admitted that the Valve Ranking System (VRS) has been a bumpy road. “The VRS has been a challenging journey, and while it is disappointing news, our priority is to ensure the best possible conditions for our players,” they added.
Basically, NIP believes playing in Fragadelphia would do more harm than good for their Major readiness. It could mean losing valuable points and slipping further down the Valve ranking, where they currently sit at 17th. That ranking spot has become a real headache for many teams. For now, what’s next on the calendar for the legendary organization remains up in the air.