paiN Secures Spot in BLAST Bounty Finals with Victory Over NIP

paiN has clinched a place in the BLAST Bounty 2026 S2 LAN Finals following a convincing two-map victory against Ninjas in Pyjamas. The Brazilian team showcased their skills with a 13-6 win on Nuke and a nail-biting 16-14 triumph on Mirage.

The qualification is a significant achievement for paiN, especially considering their recent struggles that saw them drop to No. 30 in the VRS rankings after the addition of Rafael "saffee" Costa to their roster. This victory marks a turning point for the team as they aim to regain their competitive edge.

In the first map, paiN dominated the defensive side on Nuke, ending the half with an impressive 11-1 lead. Ninjas in Pyjamas managed to secure only one round, thanks to an ace from Roman "n0te" Hamze in the pistol round. Despite a better performance in the second half, NIP could not overcome paiN, who sealed the map with a 13-6 scoreline.

The second map, Mirage, proved to be a much tighter contest. Ninjas in Pyjamas initially took control, leading 10-5 after a successful pistol round in the second half. However, paiN rallied back, led by saffee's impactful AWP play, eventually pushing the match into overtime. In the decisive moments, saffee delivered a stunning quad-kill on the B site, securing the series for paiN and their spot in the finals.

Ninjas in Pyjamas will now shift their focus to the upcoming StarLadder StarSeries Fall qualifier, where they will face magic in an effort to secure their own spot in the competition.