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FUT Esports pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the CS Asia Championships 2025 so far, toppling FaZe Clan 13–11 on Mirage in a tight best-of-one opener. The Turkish-backed European squad showed grit and firepower, handing FaZe a wake-up call just days after their top-four finish at ESL Pro League.

A Shocking Start in Shanghai

FaZe came into Shanghai riding high from their strong ESL Pro League run, where Russel “Twistzz” Van Dulken made a successful return to the roster. But just two days after wrapping up their European campaign, the team looked fatigued in their CAC debut.

FUT Esports took full advantage, battling through a scrappy game where both sides struggled to convert on their T sides. Despite only managing three attacking rounds in the first half, FUT’s defence proved rock solid, led by standout performances from Nikita “cmtry” Samolotov, Džiugas “dziugss” Steponavičius, and newcomer Laurențiu “lauNX” Țârlea, each racking up close to 100 ADR.

jcobbb Returns, But FUT Hold Strong

FaZe’s roster shuffle also came into play. Jakub “jcobbb” Pietruszewski was back in the lineup after sitting out the ESL Pro League due to roster restrictions, with veteran Håvard “rain” Nygaard stepping aside for this event. The change disrupted some of FaZe’s rhythm, though jcobbb still put in a decent showing with 17 kills.

On the other side, FUT’s Dmytro “dem0n” Myroshnychenko stole the spotlight, dropping 21 kills and posting a 1.57 rating in the win. His clutch holds and consistency gave FUT the edge they needed to close out the game 13–11.

Community Reactions: “We Beat FaZe!”

FUT fans erupted online following the win, flooding X (formerly Twitter) with celebratory posts. The team’s official account simply repeated the chant heard across timelines:

“WE BEAT FAZE WE BEAT FAZE WE BEAT FAZE!”

Turkish esports fans joined in with memes and chants under the #FUTWIN hashtag, while TRCS Esports and several players from the region shared their pride in the underdog victory. One fan even joked, “FAZE KİM MEYVESUYU MARKASİ Mİ?”, roughly meaning, “Who are FaZe, a juice brand?”

Meanwhile, the HLTV forums lit up with debate. Some fans excused FaZe’s loss due to travel fatigue and limited prep time, while others questioned the team’s direction under long-time IGL Finn “karrigan” Andersen. Critics pointed to the team’s recurring early-stage stumbles, with one fan writing, “When have FaZe ever been good in group stages?”

What’s Next for FaZe and FUT

For FUT Esports, this win marks a statement moment, proof that their rebuilt lineup can challenge tier-one opposition on LAN. It’s a massive morale boost as they continue through the CS Asia Championships group stage.

FaZe, on the other hand, will look to bounce back quickly. With fatigue, travel, and lineup swaps all in the mix, they’ll need to regroup fast to stay in contention in Shanghai.

Whether this loss is just a blip or a warning sign remains to be seen, but one thing’s clear, FUT have officially arrived on the global Counter-Strike stage.