Esportal Joel ”Apemother” Larsson long lived on the verge of being a professional esports athlete. When Ninjas in Pyjamas showed up, the Swedish carry could all of a sudden go all in on his dreams.

– Before NiP came I lived of money I had saved from a previous profession, Apemother tells Aftonbladet Esports while getting ready for Esportals second Invitational qualifier.

Ninjas in Pyjamas had made their mark in the esports scene through their League of Legends team but first and foremost their top CS:GO squad. But when the Swedish Dota 2 underdogs Lajons started to make som noise in the scene, Emil ”HeatoN” Christensen and the rest of the NiP crew didn’t want to miss out on the opportunity to have a team competing for the biggest prize pools in all of esports.

”We need to get more results”

The teams main ambition during its first year in Ninjas in Pyjamas is to be invited to The International 5. One part in that aspiration is to make a name for them selfs in online, as well as offline, tournaments. Adrian ”Era” Kryeziu, Jonas ”jonassomfan” Lindholm, Simon ”Handsken” Haag, Elias ”Sealkid” Merta and Joel ”Apemother” Larsson need to get Valves attention.

– They might already be considering to invite us, but we still need to get more results. We need at least one or two good LAN:s to earn a spot, but I definitely believe we have a shot and we still have much time, Apemother tells Aftonbladet Esport.

”Other teams know what we’re up to”

The Swedish side took the Dota2-scene quite by surprise. Through an ultra-aggressive style of play they have won over some of the biggest teams out there. But the honeymoon might have come to an end with teams adapting to their style of Dota.

– The other players know what we’re up to know and we are trying to work out som different strategies. We have tested a new approach that works really well right now.

”I know Alliance really well”

Esportals second Invitational qualifier will se some of the best western teams compete for a spot in the big LAN finals. Virtus.Pro, Asus.Polar, Vega, Meepwn’d, Team Tinker, 4 Anchors + Sea Captain and Alliance will try and stop NiP from attending the LAN where over 100 000 Euros are on the line. One of those teams have a special place in Apemothers heart.

– I’ve played a decent amount of games with Alliance as a standin and I know the guys really well, we are good friends. There’s a friendly rivalry between us, but for me it’s nice to face them with a squad I’ve been a part of from its creation.

You spent a long time in the twilight zone between pro and amateur. Esportal have an ambition to help out teams who are playing right below the big professional teams. What are your opinions on tournaments like that?

– I believe it’s extremely important, without new teams esports is nothing.

”Haven’t realized I’m living my dream”

How does it feel to be able to live off your gaming now?

– It’s an unreal feeling and I haven’t realized that I’m living my dream quite yet.

What did you do for a living before you signed with NiP?

– Before NiP came I lived off of money I had saved from a previous profession

How has the short time with Ninjas in Pyjamas been so far?

– We could not have dreamt of anything better. Everything has been working really well with them.

”Difficult to predict what Vega will do”

Apemother consider NiP:s chances to advance to be fairly good. In the first game of the second invitational qualifier they will face off against Virtus.Pro and after that they face either Meepwn’d or Team Tinker. But according to the star himself the toughest opposition is on the other side of the bracket.

– Vega and Asus.Polar are probably the biggest threat.

Why Vega?

– Because they are an unknown team and it will difficult to predict what they will do.