Twistzz to Take Break From Social Media After FaZe’s ESL Pro League Season 23 Elimination

FaZe Clan star Russel “Twistzz” Van Dulken announced he will take a break from social media following the team’s elimination from ESL Pro League Season 23, after a disappointing result against Astralis in the Counter-Strike 2 tournament.

FaZe were knocked out of EPL S23 after losing 1-2 to Astralis in Stage 2, finishing their run with a 1-3 match record. The result continues a difficult start to the 2026 season for the international CS2 roster.

Twistzz: “I’m disappointed with myself”

After the loss, Twistzz shared a message with fans explaining that he is unhappy with his individual performance and plans to temporarily step away from social media.

“I’m disappointed in myself. I feel like I lost something individually and I want to find it again. I’ll be taking a break from social media for a bit.”

The Canadian rifler said his preparation has been improving but admitted he still hasn’t reached the level he expects from himself.

During ESL Pro League Season 23, Twistzz finished the event with a 0.93 rating, reflecting the struggles FaZe experienced throughout the tournament.

FaZe eliminated by Astralis at ESL Pro League S23

The elimination series against Astralis was a close three-map battle. FaZe started strong by winning Dust2, but Astralis responded on Ancient before closing the series on Inferno in overtime.

The defeat ended FaZe’s ESL Pro League campaign earlier than expected.

Before facing Astralis, FaZe managed to keep their playoff hopes alive with a 2-0 victory over Monte in an elimination match. However, earlier losses to G2 and paiN Gaming left them with no room for further mistakes in the Swiss stage.

Difficult start to 2026 for FaZe Clan

FaZe’s exit from ESL Pro League Season 23 continues a rough start to the year. The team has struggled to find consistent form in Counter-Strike 2 tournaments, winning only a small portion of their matches so far in 2026.

The roster still features some of the most experienced players in the scene:

• Finn “karrigan” Andersen

• Russel “Twistzz” Van Dulken

• David “frozen” Čerňanský

• Håvard “rain” Nygaard

• Helvijs “broky” Saukants

Despite recent struggles, FaZe’s leadership continues to support Twistzz as a key player in the team.

Karrigan previously praised the Canadian star’s impact on the lineup, saying Twistzz brought a “tornado of fresh air” to the team and helped with mid-round calling.

Frozen also highlighted Twistzz’s value, calling him “an incredible player who has the FaZe DNA.”

What’s next for FaZe after ESL Pro League?

Following their elimination from ESL Pro League Season 23, FaZe are expected to focus on upcoming international CS2 tournaments.

Their next major event will be BLAST Open Rotterdam, where FaZe will look to bounce back and regain momentum in the 2026 competitive season.

For Twistzz, the social media break appears to be part of a reset as he works to rediscover his individual form and help FaZe return to championship contention in Counter-Strike 2.