NIP vs Sharks Prediction 28 May 2026
🔊 The second upper bracket semifinal in Barcelona brings together the two biggest disruptors of the tournament’s opening day. Ninjas in Pyjamas delivered a textbook performance, showing that their revamped roster has come to Spain with only one goal: to win. On the other side, Brazil’s Sharks emerged victorious from a bruising South American derby and now have their sights set on taking down another tournament favorite. At stake is a guaranteed top-three finish and a shot at the grand final. There’s no room for error: the loser drops to the lower bracket, where survival becomes more precarious with each round.
Head-to-Head
The teams have already tested each other's strengths at the CCT Global Finals 2026. Back then, the Swedish side steamrolled the “Sharks,” cruising to a 2-0 series win with commanding 13-7 victories on Ancient and Nuke. That defeat is surely still fresh in the minds of the Brazilians. Sharks have had time to review their mistakes, and now is the perfect opportunity to settle the score on LAN. However, given NiP’s current form, a revenge win looks like a long shot.
NIP Team Overview
The Swedes pulled off the biggest upset of the opening round, dismantling a solid HEROIC side with a clean 2-0 sweep. It was a true showcase from stavn-the Danish player, who continues to adapt to his new role as primary AWPer, switched into god mode: an astronomical 1.85 rating for the series and an insane 106.8 ADR. This time, captain Snappi stuck to his tactical game plan, while riflers sjuush, xKacpersky, and cairne all turned up in excellent form. NiP are riding a huge wave of momentum right now, and stavn’s current level is more than enough to single-handedly shut down tier-two opposition. The only concern is that this lineup sometimes gets carried away and throws away rounds despite having the advantage-a flaw that could prove costly in their upcoming clash.
Match Results: NIP
Sharks Team Overview
The Brazilians arrived at the LAN as clear underdogs, but they immediately tore up the pre-tournament predictions with a gritty opening-round win over their regional rivals 9z (2-1). The decider came down to Nuke, where Sharks edged out a narrow victory in a tense finish - 13-11. Led by gafolo, the team showcase classic Latin American CS: aggressive gunplay, relentless pushes, and fearless aim duels. Their AWPer doc, who posted insane numbers during the closed qualifiers, continues to deliver and remains a high-impact player. However, the Sharks still struggle with an old weakness: if their shots aren’t connecting early, their entire game plan tends to unravel under heavy pressure from their opponents.
Match Results: Sharks
Editorial Prediction
On paper, NiP are clear favourites here. Their map pool is well-prepared-Anubis and Mirage in particular give them a real edge-and their wealth of LAN experience is hard to ignore. The Brazilians will likely try to throw the series into chaos with relentless pressure, but if stavn keeps fragging like he did yesterday, Sharks are in for a tough time on the server. NiP are playing with more consistency, flexibility, and class right now, so backing them for the win is a solid call. Riding the momentum from their demolition of HEROIC, the Europeans should be expected to take this match and advance to the winners’ final. Alternatively, NiP -1.5 maps handicap is an option for those confident in a dominant sweep-the kind of result xKacpersky and company look more than capable of delivering against these unpredictable opponents.
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Betting Tips: NIP - Sharks
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