NIP's new IGL Krimbo on the IGL role: I have no doubts or fears

After NIP’s new IGL Krimbo opened his 1win Private Club campaign with a 2-0 win over 3DMAX, he spoke candidly about what it has been like to take over from Snappi, where the team currently stands in its adjustment period, and how he sees the race for PGL Major Singapore 2026 qualification.

NIP opened 1win Private Club Season 1 with a clean 2-0 win over 3DMAX. Notably, 3DMAX arrived fresh off a title win just two days earlier. This was also Krimbo’s second LAN event since replacing the benched Snappi. Having previously served as an IGL only for BIG Academy, his move into the role sparked plenty of discussion, but the German player said it has come naturally to him.

Q: Krimbo, how does it feel to beat 3DMAX in your opening match?

Krimbo: This was an important win. They had just won a title, so I knew they would come in full of confidence and with their morale high. I’m not really sure about the current VRS ranking—who can make the Major, whether we have a chance—all of that isn’t important. We just know we have to do everything we can to win our matches.

Q: Talk us through how you ended up joining NIP as the IGL. How did it happen?

Krimbo: I’m currently on loan and haven’t fully joined NIP yet; I’m still under contract with BIG. It started around two or three months ago, when N0te first joined the team. We discussed the possibility of me coming in as an anchor/lurker, but it didn’t happen. Later, they showed interest again, but said, “The situation is pretty complicated right now.” Since DuDe is the assistant coach, and I worked with him for two years at BIG, he asked me: “Can you see yourself as an IGL? I know what you’re capable of from your time at BIG.” I’ve always been fairly vocal and wanted to be involved in the tactical side, and I had already been an IGL before joining BIG’s main roster. So it was a bit random—we got it sorted within a day. But I just wanted to compete again.

Q: Had you already imagined yourself becoming the IGL before, or do you think taking on the role could extend your career?

Krimbo: Of course I’d thought about it. I knew I’d become an IGL sooner or later, but this happened very suddenly. I just wanted to take this opportunity to get back on the server. Life does not always go exactly to plan. You picture how you’ll play, then once you’re 25, 26, 27 or 28, you naturally move into the IGL role. But that’s just how things went, and I’m very happy to be doing it.

I’ve been an IGL before, and it taught me how to take responsibility. More importantly, it gave me a broader view of the game when I was playing anchor or lurker. You stop focusing only on your own little area and position; you start to understand the game from a wider perspective and think bigger. I’d always wanted to be more deeply involved in the tactical side, and kakafu told me: “That’s difficult in your current role. We’ll do our best to help you make it happen. But if you really want that kind of influence, sooner or later you’ll have to become an IGL.”

Q: You took over from Snappi, who is one of the most experienced IGLs out there. What do you think you can bring to the team that Snappi couldn't, and how can that make the team stronger?

Krimbo: I have a lot of respect for Snappi. He has had huge success in his career and helped both ENCE and NIP climb the rankings early on. But I think this team is currently too rigid and too straightforward. The players do not have enough room to share their ideas and make plays, and we do not use much default map control. That is the change I can bring. NIP were too rigid for a while, while at BIG we were too default-heavy for a period. So I have a good understanding of what happens when you lean too far in either direction. The biggest difference is in our default map control and in activating players in different ways, rather than relying on rigid tactical routines.

Q: Do you think you can improve the team's overall firepower while taking on the IGL role?

Krimbo: Of course. I've played a lot of roles throughout my career—pretty much everything. When I joined, for example, we had n0te, and he wasn't comfortable as an anchor, so I took over the anchor role. Now that adamb has come in and covers most of the anchor positions, I can rotate more instead—on Cache mid or Nuke outside, for example. Those aren't my most natural positions, but I have the experience and I enjoy playing them. I like communicating, being active in the mid-round, and giving the team an overall view of the game. I like doing that on the CT side as well. That's part of the IGL role too.

Q: adamb joined shortly after you did. Did you know that when you joined?

Krimbo: At first, I saw the rumours, and he did end up joining. As the IGL, your opinion carries more weight—I gave my view, and the rest was up to NIP management and the coaching staff. I was not overly involved. Once he joined, we only had two days of practice before Logitech G Play Connect 2026, which was nowhere near enough, especially since I had only been the IGL for two or three weeks. Everything new was piled together, and the players also had to adjust to the new style I was bringing in. We accepted the reality: “Okay, things might be a bit messy right now, but that’s fine—we’ll grow through the chaos.” Fortunately, we had a week-and-a-half boot camp in Warsaw. Everyone found their rhythm, and it feels much more comfortable now.

Q: How is it going with Xizt as coach and with the team as a whole? Have you settled in yet?

Krimbo: Honestly, I felt comfortable from the very first second I joined. When we talked about me becoming the IGL, I had no doubts or fears. It’s a big responsibility and there are plenty of challenges, but that’s how it should be. It shouldn’t be boring; sometimes it’s supposed to be difficult. When I joined, Xizt, DuDe, and I shared a similar vision, and they gave me full freedom to call. They didn’t want to force a fixed style on me—they wanted me to develop it myself. After meeting the players, we had great team chemistry, and we have a lot of fun outside the server as well. For now, it all feels comfortable.

Q: NIP is a big name in CS, and its ambitions are high too—the target is definitely at least the Major. Has that put pressure on you?

Krimbo: Yes, NIP is a great, massive organization, and they deserve to be among the best. That is why we are here. Overall, by winning this match, maybe we have a 10% chance. Our job is to play, win matches, and practice. Performing under pressure and being among the best—that is our job.

Q: The race for Major qualification has already begun, and this event has a big impact on your chances. What is your approach to this tournament?

Krimbo: Like I said, we know we’re far from perfect right now. We’ve only had a week and a half of practice, and we accept that. But we’re not going to say, ‘Alright, we haven’t practised enough, so it’s fine if we lose.’ We have to get the best possible result out of where we are and accept that things will be a little messy for now. We don’t have a deep playbook. I also don’t fully know the players yet—for example, how stavn likes to approach a clutch situation. We don’t completely know each other yet, and we accept that, but we’re absolutely not going to say that it’s fine to lose right now. We always want to win. It’s just about saying, ‘Alright, this is the situation, and we’ll do our best.’