Michel "ewjerkz" Pinto has been moved to the bench at Ninjas in Pyjamas, confirming earlier reports. The 25-year-old Portuguese rifler is now listed as benched as NiP reshuffle their active five.
Pinto arrived at Ninjas in Pyjamas earlier this year alongside compatriot Rafael "arrozdoce" Wing after both had been standout performers at SAW. The pair, however, struggled to replicate their previous form when placed in an international, multi-national team environment, and the transition did not produce the immediate impact the organisation had hoped for.
A major issue for ewjerkz was his role within the team. During the first half of 2025 he was asked to adopt a leading, aggressive, space-taking role — effectively the team's star presence in many rounds — but he was unable to consistently deliver the high numbers expected from that position.
Following the arrival of Kacper "xKacpersky" Gabara on loan, ewjerkz acknowledged he would have to relinquish some of those responsibilities. He said that in an ideal world he would prefer "more action," but he also admitted his recent performances had been below the required standard.
Statistically, ewjerkz's form has dipped over the year. By the end of 2025 he averaged a 1.08 rating overall, with that figure sliding to around 1.00 across the last three months. His player profile lists him at age 25, with season metrics including a maps total of 885, a KPR of 0.70 and a DPR of 0.68.
Ninjas in Pyjamas are still finalising their active roster. The organisation has not yet confirmed who will occupy the fifth slot long-term, nor whether xKacpersky's loan from ENCE will be converted into a permanent transfer.
As currently listed, Ninjas in Pyjamas' core group includes Marco "Snappi" Pfeiffer, Rasmus "sjuush" Beck, Artem "r1nkle" Moroz and Kacper "xKacpersky" Gabara (on loan), with Richard "Xizt" Landström serving as coach. Michel "ewjerkz" Pinto is designated as benched. The team sits within the mid-tier ranking range as it seeks to stabilise its lineup and on-stage results.
For context, Rafael "arrozdoce" Wing — Pinto's compatriot from the SAW era — is recorded with his own season metrics and remains an emerging name from Portugal's scene. Organisations tied into these moves include SAW and ENCE, both of which featured in the background of the recent transfers and loans.