EliGE and FaZe Part Ways — A Roster Shakeup in North American CS Returns Veteran to Liquid

EliGE and FaZe Part Ways — A Roster Shakeup in North American CS Returns Veteran to Liquid

In a major move for the CS2/CS:GO scene, Jonathan “EliGE” Jablonowski and FaZe Clan have officially parted ways. 

The decision came after EliGE had been benched since August 22. Although he originally joined FaZe at the start of 2025, the fit never fully materialized, and as of now he is no longer under contract with the organization.  The move paves the way for his return to Team Liquid, in a high-profile roster swap involving Russel “Twistzz” Van Dulken. 

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Background & Performance in FaZe

EliGE’s tenure in FaZe was short but closely watched. He joined the organization with expectations of bringing veteran firepower to the international lineup that had just parted ways with Robin “ropz” Kool.  Over his time with FaZe, his personal statistics held up: he averaged a rating of 1.11 across the maps played. 

However, team results failed to match expectations. Some of FaZe’s best finishes during his stint included:

• 3rd place at PGL Bucharest 2025

• A quarter-final finish at the Austin Major

• 4th place at PGL Cluj-Napoca 2025

Despite these results, FaZe never managed to capture a title with EliGE in the roster. 

Inside the team, it appears things were not smooth behind the scenes. FaZe’s in-game leader, Finn “karrigan” Andersen, later addressed the departure in a Q&A during a BLAST Open Fall 2025 closed qualifier. He admitted that the move was somewhat mutual and that the chemistry between EliGE and the rest of FaZe had deteriorated: “nobody was happy” and there was a mismatch in vision and team dynamics. 

Karrigan said of the split:

“I don't think there's a specific reason, right? In the end it was in some ways mutual, no one was happy and he wasn’t happy … sometimes visions and players don't mix up … the results were not what we wanted.” 

In FaZe’s place, the organization had introduced Polish rising star Jakub “jcobbb” Pietruszewski to the lineup following EliGE’s benching. 

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Return Home: Liquid Picks Up EliGE

Not long after the announcement from FaZe, Team Liquid confirmed that EliGE would return to the team where he had spent much of his career.  Liquid’s official announcement revealed that the move would involve a swap: EliGE returns to Liquid, and in turn Twistzz, who had been on Liquid, moves to FaZe. 

EliGE was inactive on FaZe’s active lineup and had been benched to make room for jcobbb.  Liquid’s announcement also noted that his return would be formalized in upcoming competitions such as Fragadelphia Blocktober and the Birch Cup LAN in Gdańsk, Poland (September 26–28). 

In his previous run with Liquid, EliGE became one of North America’s most decorated players. Between March 2015 and June 2023, he helped the team win 10 significant trophies, including ESL One Cologne 2019, IEM Sydney, and the Intel Grand Slam Season 2, which Liquid captured in a remarkable 63-day span. 

Liquid’s roster after his return will include:

• Keith “NAF” Markovic

• Guy “NertZ” Iluz

• Roland “ultimate” Tomkowiak 

• Kamil “siuhy” Szkaradek 

• And EliGE himself 

They will be led by head coach Viktor “flashie” Tamás Bea. 

Liquid’s announcement acknowledged that while EliGE left in part seeking a place where he could win more, the synergy with FaZe simply didn’t materialize.  The move is seen as a homecoming, giving EliGE a renewed chance to lift trophies with an organization that once was his home base. 

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Reception, Analysis & Broader Context

The community reaction has been lively. Some see EliGE’s return to Liquid as a much-needed anchor for North America’s CS scene.  Others speculate that the roster swap with Twistzz will inject fresh life into FaZe, which has been seeking to reestablish identity amid multiple changes. 

In commentary circles, EliGE’s time in FaZe was sometimes viewed as damaging to what many fans appreciated about FaZe’s identity. In an episode of Snake and Banter, analyst SPUNJ famously stated:

“The FaZe we know is dead … the version of FaZe everyone loved is gone … EliGE is the man who joined the team and replaced ropz … he’s not playing badly … but the way the team functions with him doesn’t work.” 

That critique is harsh but echoes sentiment among some fans who felt the team lost stylistic cohesion during his tenure.

At the same time, it’s worth noting that FaZe has been undergoing other turbulence. Earlier in September 2025, the organization publicly dissociated from former members connected with serious allegations of misconduct. While not directly linked to roster decisions, the episode speaks to an organization wrestling with internal and external pressures.

In retrospective perspective, EliGE’s move to FaZe was always a gamble. He had legendary status with Liquid, but FaZe’s international mixture demanded adaptability. The chemistry never gelled, results underwhelmed, and personalities apparently clashed. The final decision to part ways may well have been inevitable once the roster stagnated.

Now, back in a familiar environment, EliGE has the chance to reclaim and perhaps surpass his previous legacy. The stage is set for Liquid’s aggressive marksman to lead a resurgence—if the pieces align this time.