Finnish esports organization NYYRIKKI Esports has announced the acquisition of former Ence Esports DPS BAITO.

BAITO spent nearly the entirety of 2017 as DPS for Ence Esports, during which he competed against NYYRIKKI several times at Finnish LANs. He was released by the organization in December following a shakeup across the Finnish scene that was jumpstarted by a Gigantti rebuild. According to a press release from NYYRIKKI, BAITO was unable to continue playing at that time due to a severe arm injury.

BAITO had the following to say about his return to professional play in the team's press release:

After my comeback to Overwatch from injury time (5th of March 2018), I wanted to test my limits but I doubted that my arm would be strong enough to go pro again at the time so I thought that I would just sub for a Contenders team until it is strong enough. After all there were so many familiar faces from my 2017 journey in the ongoing contenders season. However, after grinding my mechanics back playing bots and ranked 7-15 hours each day for 10 days straight without days off, I realized that I could actually comeback and go fulltime pro.

He joins a NYYRIKKI squad hoping to make it out of 2018's second season of Open Division and into Contenders. Baito takes over the starting role snade, who now serves as a substitute for the team.

The NYYRIKKI Esports roster is now:

  • Samuli "BAITO" Karppinen (DPS)
  • Jussi "SKIPAH" Mehtälä (DPS)
  • Santeri "snade" Hellsten (DPS)
  • Tommi "Dommels" Pakarinen (Flex)
  • Leo "Lepadef" Norpila (Tank)
  • Juho "jönssoni" Pirttinen (Support)
  • Toni "Brokkie" Sauhke (Support)