stavn on switching to the sniper role: “I still think I can play better, but obviously, time will help.”
Ninjas in Pyjamas sniper Martin “stavn” Lund, in an interview at the Esports World Cup 2026, assessed the current Astralis roster and discussed his adjustment to the sniper role.
On Astralis
I obviously know Astralis better than Snappi does. But on the other hand, I also think they’ve changed their playstyle a bit, especially after transitioning to an international roster.
On adapting to the sniper role
I think I’m doing pretty well—that’s how I’d put it. I still think I can play better, but obviously, time will help. For now, though, I’ve been having fun, and I’m enjoying it. And I think the team is happy with it, too. So I’m looking forward to continuing.
On the most difficult part of playing with the AWP
I’ve been asked this question before. It’s hard to say exactly what the hardest part is. I think at first it’s, for example, when you miss some easy targets, because, obviously, in a sense, it’s the easiest weapon to get kills with, and also, perhaps, the best weapon in the game. So when you sometimes miss easy targets, compared to when you’re playing as a rifleman, for example, after a game, when you’re lying in bed at night and trying to sleep, you might think, for example, about a spray that you perhaps didn’t control well. But with the AWP, it’s a little different. So, I’d say it’s a slightly different mental aspect.
Earlier, Ninjas in Pyjamas lost to Astralis 1–2 in the main stage of the 2026 Esports World Cup for Counter-Strike 2. As a result, Martin “stavn” Lund’s team finished the tournament in 17th–24th place and received $20,000 in prize money.
Photo by João Ferreira.
