Liquid Reunites with EliGE in Blockbuster Swap with Twistzz
Liquid Reunites with EliGE in Blockbuster Swap with Twistzz
Team Liquid has officially confirmed the return of Jonathan “EliGE” Jablonowski, reuniting the veteran rifler with the organization he represented for over eight years. In the same move, Russel “Twistzz” Van Dulken is heading to FaZe Clan in what amounts to a direct trade.
From Bench to Boom: How the Swap Materialized
EliGE had been benched by FaZe since August, making way for Polish talent Jakub “jcobbb” Pietruszewski. Despite being sidelined, he posted a solid 1.11 average rating during his time with FaZe. FaZe struggled to find cohesion with him in the lineup, and the mutual decision to part ways appears to have been driven by both mismatch and performance pressures.
Meanwhile, FaZe had earlier locked in the return of Twistzz from Liquid prior to this swap. The departure of Twistzz left Liquid in need of a high-impact rifler — and the return of EliGE gives them exactly that.
Liquid formally listed EliGE on their roster for Fragadelphia Blocktober, scheduled October 2–5 in Philadelphia, in place of Twistzz. At the same time, they are slated to field him in the Birch Cup LAN in Gdańsk, Poland (September 26–28).
EliGE’s Legacy at Liquid & His Career Arc
EliGE’s most successful years unfolded under the Liquid banner. From March 2015 to June 2023, he helped the organization capture 10 significant titles, including ESL One Cologne 2019, IEM Sydney, DreamHack Masters Dallas, and the legendary Intel Grand Slam Season 2, which Liquid clinched in a record-setting 63 days.His time away included stints at Complexity and then FaZe, but those moves never regained him the same level of organizational stability or trophy haul.
EliGE remains one of North America’s most decorated CS players — a 6× HLTV Top 20 pick, multiple-time MVP, and hallmark figure of Liquid’s golden era. His decision to rejoin Liquid is often framed not just as a tactical roster move, but as a return “home.”
Liquid’s New Lineup & Expectations
With EliGE now part of the roster, Liquid’s lineup is:
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Keith “NAF” Markovic
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Guy “NertZ” Iluz
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Roland “ultimate” Tomkowiak
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Kamil “siuhy” Szkaradek
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Jonathan “EliGE” Jablonowski
They are coached by Viktor “flashie” Tamás Bea.
Liquid’s recent form has been uneven. Their performance had dipped, and before the shakeup, the team was fighting to stay within top 32 rankings and to secure slot(s) for the upcoming StarLadder Budapest Major. Their run in FISSURE Playground 2 was pivotal; they managed to clinch a big result despite internal turmoil (including the Twistzz move), helping to salvage their Major qualification hopes.
The hope is that EliGE’s aggressive rifling, tact and experience will reinvigorate the squad and restore Liquid to stronger international relevance.
Challenges That Remain
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Chemistry & system fit: Reintegrating a legend is never plug-and-play. FaZe’s difficulties with EliGE underscored that raw talent alone doesn’t guarantee synergy.
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Pressure of expectations: Fans expect immediate results given his historical legacy at Liquid.
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Consistency under pressure: Liquid must avoid early exits in big events, something that previously undermined the roster’s momentum.
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Rivalries re-lit: With Twistzz now in FaZe, the North American and global CS ecosystem will closely watch how each player performs in his new (or returning) home.
What’s Next & Key Tournaments
EliGE’s formal debut back in Liquid is expected soon during Birch Cup (Sept 26–28, Gdańsk, Poland). Shortly after, Fragadelphia Blocktober (Oct 2–5, Philadelphia) marks his return on North American soil. Both events will serve as tests: can Liquid cohere quickly, and can EliGE reclaim form within a changed meta?
If positive momentum develops, Liquid have a fighting chance to reclaim standing in the global CS2 scene and compete for more meaningful event success before year’s end.
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