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.

FUT shock FaZe with an upset win on Mirage 🔥 pic.twitter.com/l3vr2uDjHz

— HLTV.org (@HLTVorg) October 14, 2025

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!”

WE BEAT FAZE WE BEAT FAZE WE BEAT FAZE WE BEAT FAZE WE BEAT FAZE WE BEAT FAZE WE BEAT FAZE WE BEAT FAZE WE BEAT FAZE WE BEAT FAZE WE BEAT FAZE pic.twitter.com/tQm1GEQs9X

— FUT Esports (@FUTesportsgg) October 14, 2025

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.

The post FUT Esports Stun FaZe in CS Asia Championships Opener appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

FaZe Clan have confirmed that Håvard “rain” Nygaard will return to the team’s starting lineup for the remainder of ESL Pro League Season 22. The move comes after the organisation’s recent forfeit against G2 Esports, following a disagreement with ESL over roster eligibility rules.

Well, that didn’t last too long.

See you soon @FaZe_rainCS! pic.twitter.com/1vh6yXgrNA

— FaZe Esports (@FaZeEsports) October 4, 2025

The Norwegian veteran replaces Jakub “jcobbb” Pietruszewski, who will temporarily move to the bench. According to FaZe, rain’s inclusion ensures the team complies with ESL’s rulebook, which requires that at least three members from the roster listed in the July 7 ESL ranking update remain active. Rain was part of that original lineup, making him a necessary piece for FaZe to continue their EPL campaign without further conflict.

FaZe’s current roster for the event now consists of:

• Finn “karrigan” Andersen
• David “frozen” Čerňanský
• Russel “Twistzz” Van Dulken
• Helvijs “broky” Saukants
• Håvard “rain” Nygaard
• Filip “NEO” Kubski (coach)

Once ESL Pro League concludes, rain will step back to the bench, and jcobbb is expected to rejoin the starting five for the CS Asia Championships.

Background: The G2 Forfeit Controversy

The decision to bring rain back followed FaZe’s unexpected forfeit of their opening match against G2. The incident sparked major community discussion, with fans criticising both FaZe and ESL for the situation. ESL’s strict rule regarding player retention prevented FaZe from using jcobbb, who had only recently joined the lineup.

Many fans took to forums and social media to react. Some saw the move as a “management masterclass,” while others sympathised with jcobbb, calling his benching “sad” after he performed decently in his debut tournament. “He only got one week to prove himself at Tier 1,” one commenter wrote. Others, however, felt the decision was justified, with another fan joking, “The ‘C’ in FaZe Clan stays for cinema.”

A Veteran’s Return

Despite the drama, the return of rain has reignited nostalgia among fans who remember FaZe’s dominant years. Known as one of the longest-serving players in the roster, his presence adds experience and leadership to the squad. For some, this moment feels like “nostalgia farming like it’s 2022 again.”

As FaZe resume their ESL Pro League journey, the spotlight now shifts to how the team performs with rain back in the mix. Whether this change brings stability or more controversy remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure, FaZe are once again the talk of the Counter-Strike scene.

The post FaZe Bring rain Back for ESL Pro League After Lineup Dispute appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

FaZe Clan has made one of its biggest Counter-Strike 2 roster changes yet, benching veteran rifler Håvard “rain” Nygaard after almost ten years with the team. The move clears the way for Canadian star Russel “Twistzz” Van Dulken to return to the starting five, just months after rejoining the organisation from Team Liquid.

After 3541 days on our CS roster, we have made the very difficult decision to move rain to the bench.

Håvard remains a world class player and his career is far from over. We are so grateful for the memories we made together, and you will always be a legend in our FaZe family ❤️ pic.twitter.com/xrgLkiHrp8

— FaZe Esports (@FaZeEsports) September 29, 2025

Rain joined FaZe back in January 2016, becoming a cornerstone of the squad through its many highs and lows. Across nearly a decade, the Norwegian rifler collected 19 trophies, including the PGL Antwerp Major in 2022, an Intel Grand Slam, and ESL Pro League Season 17. He was also named MVP at four tournaments and featured three times in HLTV’s Top 20 players of the year, peaking at 13th in 2022.

In a heartfelt statement on X, rain thanked his teammates, coaches, and fans for “countless memories, amazing matches, and trophies we have lifted.” He added that representing FaZe had been an honour, but made it clear that he has no intention of retiring from CS2.

🫡 pic.twitter.com/IkqUT4eL25

— Håvard Nygaard (@FaZe_rainCS) September 29, 2025

“My journey in CS2 is far from over. I’m not retiring. I will keep competing and growing as a player. I’m open to offers for any role, and while stepping into the IGL role would be a new challenge for me, it’s one I’m eager to embrace,” rain said.

FaZe Looks Ahead With Twistzz

Rain’s departure comes during a period of heavy roster changes for FaZe in 2025. The team recently parted ways with Jonathan “EliGE” Jablonowski and signed Polish rifler Jakub “jcobbb” Pietruszewski from Betclic. With Twistzz back in the mix, the team is hoping to find stability after more than a year without a major title.

Twistzz previously spent three years with FaZe before leaving for Liquid in 2023. Now returning to familiar ground, he’ll line up alongside in-game leader Finn “karrigan” Andersen, David “frozen” Čerňanský, Helvijs “broky” Saukants, and jcobbb, with legendary coach Filip “NEO” Kubski still at the helm.

FaZe’s next challenge is ESL Pro League Season 22 Stage 2, which kicks off on October 4. Currently ranked 12th in the Valve Regional Standings, the team is on course to qualify for the StarLadder Budapest Major this November. Strong results in Pro League could secure their spot and set the tone for the rest of the season.

For rain, this marks the end of an era but potentially the start of a new chapter. Whether he embraces the IGL role or finds a fresh opportunity elsewhere, one thing is clear: his story in Counter-Strike 2 is far from finished.

The post FaZe Clan Benches rain After Nearly a Decade, appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

FaZe Clan opened their BLAST Open London 2025 run with a 2–1 victory over ECSTATIC, but the spotlight was on Jakub “jcobbb” Pietruszewski, who had a challenging debut for the European giants.

The Polish rifler ended the series with a 0.81 rating, showing flashes of potential but struggling to find consistency across the three maps. His debut had highs and lows, from a rough Overpass to a strong individual display on Dust2.

Overpass Slips Away

The series kicked off on Overpass, and FaZe started well, jumping to a 10–5 lead at the half. But ECSTATIC rallied behind William “sirah” Kjærsgaard, who grabbed nine kills in just two rounds to flip the momentum. The Danes ran away with eight straight rounds, sealing the map 13–10. For jcobbb, it was the toughest map of the day, finishing with just three kills on the T side and a 0.30 rating, with 0.53 rating at the end of the map.

😰 We owe EliGE an apology. pic.twitter.com/kmNSjFyXar

— CS2 NEWS (@CS2News_EN) August 27, 2025

Dust2 Domination

FaZe struck back in spectacular fashion on Dust2, pulling off a flawless 13–0 sweep.

OUR FIRST 13-0 OF THE OPEN! 🙌 #BLASTPremier pic.twitter.com/vRhSaj22X4

— BLAST Premier 💥 (@BLASTPremier) August 27, 2025

Frozen and broky lit up the scoreboard with highlight plays, while karrigan’s calling kept the pace relentless. Even though jcobbb didn’t get much action during the stomp, he managed a 1.28 rating, his best showing of the series, proving he could bounce back when given space.

Inferno Decider

Inferno brought plenty of tension as ECSTATIC’s force buys handed them a 9–6 lead at halftime. FaZe, however, showed their veteran composure, with broky and frozen stepping up in key rounds. The match stretched into overtime, but FaZe punished ECSTATIC’s aggressive pushes and closed it out 16–13, winning the series 2–1.

Community Reactions

jcobbb’s numbers, 31–39 K/D, 53.8 ADR and 0.81 rating overall, sparked a wave of discussion online. Some fans joked that “we owe EliGE an apology” after comparing the stats, while others reminded the community that debuts are never easy. Karrigan publicly defended his new teammate, pointing out that jcobbb had to learn new roles, deal with stolen kills from frozen, and play on a map that was once his permaban.

New position on map 1, 2nd map frozen stole all kills, 3rd map your perma ban in previous team. Some might say with 10 praccs with us that this was worst case scenario for your debut 🙏 don’t worry bro

— karrigan (@karriganCSGO) August 27, 2025

CS2 caster Phy also noted that broky’s first three months in FaZe weren’t smooth either, calling for patience.

This was broky’s first 3 months in FaZe btw.

Don’t hate on jcobbb pic.twitter.com/4FnmjA93jz

— PHY (@PhyCasts) August 27, 2025

What’s Next

It wasn’t the explosive debut many were hoping for, but jcobbb has time to grow into FaZe’s system. London might just be the rough learning curve he needs before hitting his stride. With FaZe advancing in the upper bracket, the young rifler will have more chances to prove himself as BLAST Open London continues.

The post jcobbb’s Tough Debut as FaZe Beat ECSTATIC at BLAST Open London 2025 appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

FaZe Clan have confirmed the signing of 21-year-old Jakub “jcobbb” Pietruszewski, bringing fresh firepower and youth into a roster that’s been under pressure to rediscover its old form. The move sees the young Polish rifler arrive from Betclic Apogee, stepping onto the tier-one stage for the first time.

take care of him lads ❤️

— Betclic Apogee Esports (@BetclicApogee) August 22, 2025

The timing couldn’t be clearer, FaZe are coming off a rough run with early exits at IEM Cologne, BLAST Bounty Season 2, and the Esports World Cup (EWC). Those results pushed the organisation to make changes, starting with the benching of Jonathan “EliGE” Jablonowski, who never quite managed to spark the team despite solid individual numbers. Looking for answers, FaZe have now turned to a player who’s been steadily climbing the Counter-Strike ladder for years.

A Steady Grind to the Top

jcobbb isn’t an overnight success. His journey shows the persistence of a grinder who refused to give up:

• 2019 – Reached FACEIT Level 10
• 2020 – Debuted in the Polish Pro League
• 2022 – Qualified for PPL AMA Pro3
• 2023 – Joined 9INE, gaining experience against teams like BIG and FORZE
• 2024 – Signed with Betclic, then earned an invite to FPL
• 2025 – Now joins FaZe Clan

That consistency has paid off, with FaZe now putting their faith in his raw aim and energy to lift the team back to title-contending status.

Praise From His Former Coach

At Betclic, jcobbb posted a 1.13 rating, proving himself more than capable of holding his own against international competition. His coach, Jędrzej “Bogdan” Rokita, didn’t hold back when asked about his star:

“I gave an interview while signing this roster saying that jcobbb shoots as hard as Twistzz or NiKo. When I saw him in practice… it was incredible. Insane. Like, I haven’t seen anything like that.”

High praise, and big expectations, now follow him into FaZe.

First Taste of the Big Stage

jcobbb’s first brush with top-tier play came at PGL Bucharest with Betclic, where the team upset Astralis and The MongolZ before bowing out to FURIA, Aurora, and FaZe themselves. While his numbers dipped in those losses, he still delivered strong performances in their victories, flashing the potential FaZe clearly believe in.

Current stats for jcobbbb

21 years old from Poland. Hopefully he can bring some fire into this Faze team‼️ pic.twitter.com/zCd3SMtlUs

— Twitch/SnafFPS (@SnafFPS) August 22, 2025

A New Era for FaZe

This signing does more than just add another name to the lineup. jcobbb’s arrival also lowers FaZe’s average age, which had been the oldest among the world’s top 10 teams. For a roster searching for a spark, youth and energy could be exactly what’s needed.

FaZe’s current roster is now:

• Finn “karrigan” Andersen
• Håvard “rain” Nygaard
• David “frozen” Čerňanský
• Helvijs “broky” Saukants
• Jakub “jcobbb” Pietruszewski
• Filip “NEO” Kubski (coach)

The post FaZe Sign Rising Polish Talent jcobbb appeared first on Shane the Gamer.