NIP Welcome Back Hampus, Decide to Bench Aleksib

Hampus “hampus” Poser returns to NIP following a five-month hiatus 

Hampus “⁠hampus⁠” Poser has officially returned to the Ninjas in Pyjamas' starting roster. After taking a five-month break from competitive play, the NIP captain is back in action and Aleksi “⁠Aleksib⁠” Virolainen will move to the bench to make room for his return. 

Guess who's back? Coming into the new season, @hampuscsgo is taking up the IGL mantle once more — well rested and hungrier than ever. We're seriously proud to have built a structure that can accommodate a player's need to take time off and recalibrate, and seriously happy to see… pic.twitter.com/xFlli3AIva

— NIP CS (@NIPCS) June 14, 2023

Hampus made the decision to take an indefinite break from competitive play in January in order to prioritize his recovery from an undisclosed health issue. 

“Hampus has spent the last few days consulting with our performance director Troels and medical professionals, and we've agreed that he needs a break from competition,” NIP said back then in their official statement. “In order to ensure that he has the time and space needed to get well, Hampus will take the rest of the spring season off with our full support.”

The Swedes recruited Kristian “⁠k0nfig⁠” Wienecke afterward. k0nfig has not been a standout performer for NIP, having registered an average of 1.05 across 84 maps, but the rifler keeps his place in the main quintet following Hampus’ return. The former Astralis man, however, is likely to play as an AWPer from now on, as Hampus is expected to take over rifling responsibilities.

NIP officially announce Hampus’ return a week after the 24-year-old took to Twitter to reveal that is ready to come back to the competitive scene.