FaZe Clan’s IEM Kraków Run Ends in Disappointment — karrigan Calls the Loss a “Setback” with No Progress Shown

FaZe Clan’s IEM Kraków Run Ends in Disappointment — karrigan Calls the Loss a “Setback” with No Progress Shown

At the IEM Kraków 2026 Counter-Strike 2 event, FaZe Clan experienced a surprisingly early elimination, bringing to an end what had looked like a promising start to their competitive season. The Danish in-game leader and captain Finn “karrigan” Andersen openly acknowledged that the team failed to find any semblance of competitive momentum during their elimination match, stressing that FaZe “could not even make the game close or have a feeling of progression.” 

After concluding the previous calendar year with a very strong result — reaching the grand final at the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025, where they finished as runners-up — expectations were high for FaZe in early 2026. That Budapest event, one of the most important in the CS2 Major circuit, saw FaZe excel through group and playoff stages before falling 3–1 in the final. However, those strong late-season performances have not yet carried over into the new year.

At IEM Kraków, FaZe’s opening matches were inconsistent. The team began their campaign with a win over BC.Game, securing a 2–1 victory in the lower bracket after earlier results in the Group B stage.  But trouble quickly followed: immediately thereafter, they faced MOUZ, a European side that delivered a decisive and dominant 2–0 sweep against FaZe. MOUZ controlled both maps — Mirage and Inferno — leaving FaZe without a single competitive foothold in the series and eliminating them from the tournament in 9–12th place. 

In his post-match comments, karrigan was candid about his disappointment. He lamented that FaZe were unable to generate any real tension in their contest against MOUZ — noting they won only one round on T-side all series — and described how flat the team’s execution felt by comparison to their peak performances late last year. He also pointed to the lack of communication flow and tactical presence as factors contributing to the lopsided result. 

This tournament has been a setback, and we just have to look forward; the season just started, but we could not even make the game close or have a feeling of progression. — Finn “karrigan” Andersen 

karrigan stressed that not all is lost for FaZe, noting that this new roster is still relatively fresh and has only played a handful of events together, especially after key player movements late last year. One significant change was the long-anticipated benching of Håvard “rain” Nygaard, a veteran who had spent nearly a decade with FaZe before being replaced by Russel “Twistzz” Van Dulken. That move was highlighted as one of the most impactful roster adjustments in late 2025, reshaping the team’s strategic identity and on-floor synergy. 

Throughout 2025, FaZe battled inconsistency: they suffered early exits in some events such as the BLAST Major Austin playoffs where they were upset by TheMongolZ, yet still managed to reach deep runs in others. In StarLadder Budapest Major 2025, they pushed through strong opposition into the finals before falling to Team Vitality. The contrasting results last year — strong Major final appearances but also shock defeats — illustrate the volatility FaZe has faced in maintaining form before Kraków.

In his interview after the loss, karrigan also reflected on the difficulty of maintaining consistent high-level play over the course of a CS2 season. He emphasized that discipline in communication, pacing, and tactical execution must be improved if the team hopes to return to contention at future big events. FaZe now must regroup and refine their approach before upcoming tournaments, which could include Cluj-Napoca qualifiers and ESL Pro League matches — key opportunities to build momentum and regain the level of strategic cohesion seen at the Budapest Major. 

karrigan’s comments reflect a broader sentiment around FaZe’s 2025–2026 trajectory: while the squad has shown flashes of brilliance and reached the very top of the sport in Major competition, they have also struggled to find stable consistency across multiple events. Whether FaZe can harness their top-end potential and translate it into regular success remains a central storyline for fans and analysts alike in the evolving 2026 season.