Copenhagen Flames upset NiP, qualify to major as Legends

The Copenhagen Flames have managed to upset Ninjas in Pyjamas and qualify for the PGL Major Antwerp 2022 as Legends.

With a 3-0 record through the Swiss stage, Flames net themselves a Legends spot at the upcoming major, meaning they will be able to bypass the Challengers stage of the competition. So far, they join Heroic, BIG, FURIA Esports, FaZe Clan, Natus Vincere and Players as the other teams with Legends status.

NiP are not eliminated, and will have two more changes to qualify to the major. They play SINNERS Esports at 8:45 a.m. on April 23 in another best of three match.

Meanwhile, the Flames sit pretty as their job is done until the Legends stage begins. The team stands out alongside BIG as the two Legends outside of the top ten teams on HLTV’s world rankings.

Something about RMR events seems to propel the Copenhagen Flames to new heights. Their results in the Intel Extreme Masters Fall RMR ahead of the PGL Major Stockholm 2021 saw them thrust onto the world stage. The team performed admirably at the major but eventually fell short to none other than NiP in the deciding playoffs qualification match. Since then, the team has had inconsistent results as they dealt with the ordeal of trying to sell the team to a new organization.

There were no signs of rust in the RMR as Copenhagen Flames ploughed through Sprout and SINNERS before coming across NiP. The best of three was kept close between the Danes and the Swedes, although the Flames ultimately 2-0’d NiP. Their stand-out performers were Nico “nicoodoz” Tamjid and Jakob “Jabbi” Nygaard.

Players were the other team to go undefeated in the European Regional Major Rankings B event. They toppled Astralis 2-1 to clinch their major spot.

The PGL Major Antwerp 2022 runs from May 9-22 in Antwerp, Belgium.