Twistzz believes FaZe can show their true level in NAVI rematch after G2 upset

Twistzz believes FaZe can show their true level in NAVI rematch after G2 upset

FaZe’s run at BLAST Rivals 2026 Season 1 in Fort Worth turned into one of the main storylines of the event. After arriving in Texas as a changed and uncertain roster, the team managed to recover from an opening loss to Natus Vincere, eliminate FURIA, and then take down G2 in the quarter-finals to book a second meeting with NAVI on the Dickies Arena stage.

Russel “Twistzz” Van Dulken, now leading FaZe in-game, said after the G2 victory that the team’s first match against NAVI did not reflect their real level. FaZe lost that opener 0-2, with NAVI winning 13-7 on Anubis and 13-11 on Ancient, but Twistzz felt the result was heavily influenced by nerves and the pressure of playing their first event with a new setup. According to him, FaZe were too hesitant in that first series and failed to reproduce the ideas they had prepared in practice. 

The Canadian captain’s mood changed after FaZe’s next two matches. First, they defeated FURIA 2-1 in the lower bracket, winning Dust2 13-4 and Nuke 13-3 around a Mirage loss. HLTV described Twistzz’s calling on Dust2 and Nuke as a key factor in the result, while broky, frozen, and jcobbb also had important moments. That win sent FURIA out of the tournament and gave FaZe a place in the playoffs. 

FaZe then produced an even bigger statement against G2. The quarter-final ended 2-1 in FaZe’s favor and included several trademark “FaZe” moments: clutches, messy rounds, a comeback attempt on Ancient, and a dramatic Mirage finish. HLTV noted that FaZe survived three series points on Mirage, with Twistzz and frozen producing a crucial 2v5 that helped swing the map before FaZe closed it in overtime. 

After the match, Twistzz said FaZe had already achieved the “one or two upsets” he had hoped for coming into the event, but he still believed the team could go further. He explained that the versions of FaZe seen against FURIA and G2 were much closer to what the roster had been building toward. In his words, the first NAVI match was affected by “first-event jitters,” while the rematch would be a chance to show “the real us.” 

The arena setting also mattered to Twistzz. He said he had not played in front of a North American crowd for three years and called the Texan audience a major source of motivation. He also praised Ryan “Neityu” Aubry’s first big-stage performance, saying he did not feel a drop-off in communication or decision-making from the stand-in. 

NAVI entered the rematch from a stronger position. They had already beaten FaZe in the group stage and then secured direct passage to the semi-finals by defeating GamerLegion 2-0. In that series, w0nderful produced his highest-rated map of the year at the time, while makazze continued to be a major force for Aleksib’s side. 

The rematch eventually went NAVI’s way. FaZe started Dust2 well but could not keep control, and NAVI won the map 13-5 before surviving a late FaZe comeback on Ancient to close the series 13-11. NAVI advanced to the BLAST Rivals grand final, while FaZe’s underdog run ended in the semi-finals. Still, the event showed clear progress for Twistzz’s new-look team: after a shaky debut, FaZe upset FURIA and G2, returned to the arena stage, and briefly looked capable of challenging one of the world’s strongest teams.