EliGE: “We can definitely do some damage here” — confident return to Liquid framed by a turbulent summer

Jonathan “EliGE” Jablonowski struck an upbeat tone in a new HLTV interview, saying he believes the current Team Liquid project can “do some damage” at upcoming events. The 28-year-old rifler’s optimism comes just days after a whirlwind sequence of roster moves that brought him back to the organization where he spent eight years and lifted the Intel Grand Slam in record time. 

A homecoming built on familiarity — and a clearer blueprint

In the conversation, EliGE emphasized how quickly the team’s practice has begun to click and how the system around in-game leader Kamil “siuhy” Szkaradek and coach Viktor “flashie” Tamás Bea gives him clearly defined space to re-apply his trademark high-pressure rifling. Liquid’s new five features EliGE alongside Keith “NAF” Markovic, Guy “NertZ” Iluz and primary AWPer Roland “ultimate” Tomkowiak under siuhy — a core that mixes old chemistry (NAF/EliGE) with aggressive mid-round initiative (NertZ) and a dedicated sniper (ultimate). The club confirmed this exact lineup in its announcement of EliGE’s return.

That familiarity matters. EliGE’s most successful period came in a Liquid jersey, including ESL One Cologne 2019, DreamHack Masters Dallas and IEM Sydney en route to winning the Intel Grand Slam Season 2 in just 63 days — milestones Liquid highlighted when unveiling the transfer. Those same years also shaped long-standing roles for EliGE and NAF, which he hinted the team can now revisit without starting from scratch.

Why now? The trade that reshaped two tier-one lineups

EliGE’s reunion with Liquid followed his benching at FaZe and a high-profile trade that sent Russel “Twistzz” Van Dulken in the opposite direction. FaZe had moved the Canadian back into its starting lineup earlier in the month, replacing Jakub “jcobbb” Pietruszewski; the ripple effects created a natural opening for Liquid to bring EliGE home. The transaction and its context were confirmed by HLTV’s coverage of both announcements. 

Liquid’s communications also set immediate expectations: EliGE’s first outing in blue will be at the Birch Cup, a $15,000 LAN in Gdańsk scheduled for Sept. 26–28 — a low-pressure setting to stress-test roles and protocols before the late-season elite events ramp up. 

What the interview tells us about Liquid’s next steps

Reading between the lines, several themes stand out from EliGE’s comments:

• Defined roles: With a dedicated AWP in ultimate and a proactive space-taker in NertZ, EliGE can return to comfortable rifle patterns (trading, late-round clutches, and high-impact site anchors) rather than papering over structural gaps — something Liquid lacked during parts of 2023. 

• System buy-in: EliGE praised the clarity that siuhy and flashie bring. That tracks with siuhy’s reputation from MOUZ — a compact default into sharp mid-round calls — which should pair well with Liquid’s mix of experience and initiative. 

• Measured expectations: While bullish about their ceiling — “damage” rather than instant dominance — the messaging recognizes 2025’s stacked field. Liquid itself acknowledged the need to rebuild form after a rocky first half of the year. 

Wider context: from bench to belief

EliGE’s FaZe stint yielded respectable personal numbers but never quite meshed with the roster’s macro approach, particularly given the stylistic contrast with Robin “ropz” Kool — a point HLTV underlined when it chronicled his benching and the subsequent swap. The reset arguably makes sense for all parties: Twistzz returns to a system that previously delivered multiple tier-one trophies, while Liquid gain a franchise face whose peak within their structures is already proven. 

What to watch at EliGE’s second Liquid debut

• Role synergy between EliGE and NertZ in mid-round space fights — expect Liquid to engineer more two-man pressure into late-round site hits. 

• AWP integration for ultimate — a stable CT rotation and more consistent T-side opening duels were recurring needs for Liquid; the Polish sniper’s usage should be a bellwether. 

• Calling cadence under siuhy — the IGL’s tempo control was a signature at his previous stops. Whether that unlocks NAF’s lurking and EliGE’s trading will define Liquid’s ceiling. 

EliGE didn’t promise miracles; he promised belief rooted in routine, role clarity and a playbook that fits. Given the pedigree of everyone involved — and a sensible first checkpoint at Birch Cup before the heavier calendar hits — the confidence sounds earned rather than performative. If the meshing he describes shows up on stage, “doing some damage” may be the floor rather than the ceiling of Liquid’s autumn ambitions.