NertZ on teaming with EliGE at Liquid: aligned vision, smooth roles

Team Liquid rifler Guy “NertZ” Iluz says working with returning star Jonathan “EliGE” Jablonowski has felt natural from day one because they “see the game the same way.” Speaking after Liquid’s opening win at PGL Masters Bucharest, NertZ explained that EliGE has picked up some of his former positions — and, in his view, is executing them even better — while NertZ has shifted back into a comfort role. “We’re unified in how we think about CS,” he said of their theorycrafting and mid-round ideas. 

The comments come a month after Liquid re-acquired EliGE in a high-profile swap that sent Russel “Twistzz” Van Dulken to FaZe Clan. Liquid announced EliGE’s return on September 25, highlighting an eight-year history between the player and the org; HLTV likewise confirmed the deal as a trade for Twistzz the same day. 

Related developments & quotes

Liquid’s Bucharest start. Liquid opened PGL Masters Bucharest 2025 with a 2–1 victory over Legacy. NertZ noted he was pleased with his uptick in form in that series, which put Liquid into the 1-0 pool of the Swiss stage. 

NertZ on Liquid even before the swap was finalized. Days before the official announcement, NertZ struck an optimistic tone about Liquid’s future “with or without Twistzz,” calling the Canadian “one of the best players in the world” but insisting the project would be strong regardless. 

EliGE on coming home. In his first interviews back, EliGE said he felt Liquid could “definitely do some damage” despite limited practice time, and described how quickly he’d integrated because Liquid’s structure matches his view of Counter-Strike. “We’re on the same page in how we talk about CS,” he added. 

Twistzz on the FaZe move. Twistzz, who left Liquid in September, called his FaZe return a “very natural reunion,” and later clarified he was always slated to take rain’s spot in the lineup. 

NAF’s candid mid-season reflections. Earlier in the year, Keith “NAF” Markovic admitted he had considered whether someone else should take his place but said teammates backed him to stay and fight through the slump — context that underscores how significant the roster reset around EliGE has been. 

Summary of today’s key point

NertZ emphasizes that Liquid’s refreshed playbook is clicking because he and EliGE share the same “theory” of CS and agree on roles, with EliGE taking over some of NertZ’s old spaces and thriving there. That alignment — plus a winning start in Bucharest — frames Liquid’s next chapter after the September Twistzz–EliGE swap.