Krimbo settles into NIP IGL role with confidence after strong 1win Private Club start

Ninjas in Pyjamas opened their 1win Private Club Season 1 campaign with a 2-0 victory over 3DMAX, who had lifted a trophy just two days earlier. The win marked an important result for the team under their new in-game leader, Karim "Krimbo" Moussa, in only his second LAN event since taking over the calling duties.

Krimbo replaced Marco "Snappi" Pfeiffer as NIP's IGL, a transition that raised eyebrows in the competitive Counter-Strike scene given his previous calling experience was limited to BIG Academy. However, the German player said the role feels natural. "I always wanted to be involved in the tactical things, and I obviously was an IGL before I joined the main team in BIG," he told HLTV. "So it was kind of random, and it also got decided in kind of one day. But I just also wanted to play again."

Krimbo is on loan to NIP and remains under contract with BIG. The move came after conversations between the organizations roughly two to three months prior, when initial discussions focused on him joining as an anchor lurk player. The IGL opportunity emerged later, particularly because NIP's assistant coach DuDe had worked with Krimbo at BIG for two years. "And they said, 'Could you imagine being an IGL?'" Krimbo explained. "Especially he said, 'I know you from the BIG days'. And I've always been more vocal."

Despite the squad's limited preparation time, Krimbo expressed measured ambitions. He said the team is still "far from perfect" with only a week and a half of practice and acknowledged gaps in team chemistry. "I also don't really 100% know the players, how maybe stavn likes to play in a clutch, or whatever it is," he noted. "We don't know each other fully yet. And we accept that, but obviously we won't say, 'Okay, it's okay to lose against this right now,' right? We always still strive to win, but we obviously just say, 'Okay, this is the situation. This is how it is, and we're just going to make the best out of it.'"

Regarding the Singapore Major race, Krimbo said he is not fixated on qualification. "I have no idea about the VRS rank right now, who's where, if we have chances, doesn't matter," he said.

Krimbo highlighted tactical differences between his approach and Snappi's. He believes NIP had played too set and straightforward under the previous system, leaving less room for player creativity and defaults. "I think with the team we have right now, they were playing too set and too straightforward, and there wasn't much room for players also to share their ideas or play," he said. "I think that's what I can bring to the table." He added that his experience at BIG, where the team at times played too much default Counter-Strike, gives him perspective on balancing both approaches.

Flexibility has been part of Krimbo's value as an IGL. When Nikolaj "n0te" Jensen joined, Krimbo shifted to anchor positions to accommodate him. Following adamb's recent addition, Krimbo moved to different roles including mid-round rotation play. "It's something that is not fully in my blood, but it's also something we have experience in and what I also like to play, also being vocal, active mid-rounds, and trying to also give the big picture for the team," he said.

On his confidence stepping into the demanding IGL role, Krimbo was direct. "When I was talking with them about being an IGL, I had no doubts in my mind or fear about it," he told HLTV. "And it's a big responsibility, right? So it also comes with a lot of challenges, but I think that's also what it's supposed to be. It's not supposed to be boring. It's also supposed to be hard."