The Stage 1 play-in of IEM Cologne 2025 features a high-profile best-of-three clash between FaZe Clan and Team Liquid. FaZe enter this matchup as a top-tier international contender (ranked #8 globally) coming off a summer break and a mixed showing at the BLAST Austin Major. Their lineup is returning to full strength with AWPer broky back after a brief benching (during which s1mple stood in), and they opened Cologne with a confident 2–0 win over BIG. Team Liquid (ranked #18) are a legendary name in CS, but they’ve undergone major roster changes and are in rebuilding mode. The new Liquid lineup – featuring former FaZe star Twistzz alongside NAF, NertZ, siuhy, and ultimate – just notched a hard-fought 2–0 win over paiN Gaming, snapping a rough losing streak. A direct spot in the IEM Cologne main event is on the line here, making this a crucial test for both teams’ CS2 form.
Betting Suggestion
Bet: FaZe Clan to win 2–1 (exact map score). We recommend betting on FaZe to win the series 2–1, meaning Liquid takes one map. FaZe are the favorites to prevail overall given their stability and firepower, but Liquid’s revamped roster has enough talent and motivation to put up a fight and likely avoid a straight sweep. FaZe have shown the occasional map slip-up, and Liquid’s star players (especially Twistzz facing his former team) could snag a map before FaZe’s superior experience wins out. This correct score bet carries a higher reward than a simple FaZe moneyline, while still aligning with the expectation that FaZe’s quality will triumph in the end.
(odds may change)
| Bookmaker | Odds (FaZe 2–1 Correct Score) |
|---|---|
| GG.Bet | 3.34 |
| Betibet | 3.10 |
| Vavada | 3.30 |
| Bet365 | 3.25 |
| Coolzino | 3.20 |
| Stake | 3.10 |
Analysis
Recent Form
FaZe Clan: FaZe come into IEM Cologne after a month-long offseason break following the BLAST.tv Austin Major. In that Major, they finished 5th–8th, making playoffs but showing uneven form. Notably, FaZe had superstar AWPer s1mple stand in during the Major (with broky temporarily benched), and while they scored impressive wins (e.g. a 2–0 over The MongolZ in groups), they also suffered upset losses to underdogs like Legacy and 3DMAX. Over the last few months, FaZe’s match results have been mixed – roughly a 50% map win rate – underlining some inconsistency. The good news is their core lineup is back to full strength: broky returns as AWPer, and new additions frozen and EliGE have had time to integrate. They shook off rust in Cologne’s opener by sweeping BIG 2–0.
Team Liquid: Team Liquid’s recent form has been shaky, marked by major roster overhaul and a string of disappointing results. Prior to Cologne, Liquid endured an extended slump across multiple events – their victory over paiN Gaming on day one here finally snapped a long losing streak that spanned three tournaments. In recent months Liquid suffered early exits with upset losses to teams like Sashi Esport, Lynn Vision, and The MongolZ, underscoring the struggles of their new lineup. The organization parted ways with its old NA core and rebuilt with an international mix, but the transition has been bumpy. On paper, the addition of Twistzz (returning to Liquid from FaZe), NertZ, and siuhy brings firepower and fresh leadership, yet it has taken time to find synergy. The win against paiN (2–0) showed glimpses of this lineup’s potential and should boost morale. However, Liquid are still 1–4 in their last five matches, and their overall map win rate in CS2 this year is under 50%. They have talent to compete, but consistency and chemistry remain concerns. Liquid will need their stars to step up and play near their peak to challenge FaZe in a full BO3 series.
Head-to-Head (H2H)
These teams have a long history, but in the recent CS2 era FaZe Clan hold the clear head-to-head edge. Since the start of 2024, FaZe and Liquid have met several times, with FaZe winning the majority of those encounters. In fact, FaZe took six out of the last seven matchups between the two. Team Liquid’s sole victory in that span came at IEM Dallas 2025, where Liquid upset FaZe – however, it’s worth noting FaZe were debuting a stand-in (s1mple) and even had to use another substitute during that event, so that result came with caveats. Outside of that anomaly, FaZe has consistently gotten the better of Liquid. Most of their 2024 meetings were won by FaZe, often in convincing fashion. In the old CS:GO days Liquid did notch some wins against FaZe, but both rosters have changed significantly since then, so those historical results are less relevant now. The bottom line is that FaZe enter this matchup with a psychological and tactical edge in H2H: they’ve proven they can beat Liquid’s lineups routinely, whereas Liquid will be looking to overturn a recent trend of FaZe dominance. The presence of Twistzz on Liquid (facing his former teammates) does add an interesting wrinkle – he’ll have insight into FaZe’s tendencies – but overall past meetings favor FaZe Clan.
Map Pool and Veto Tendencies
Map veto dynamics will play a crucial role in how this series unfolds. The active CS2 map pool (after Anubis was removed) consists of Dust2, Mirage, Inferno, Nuke, Ancient, Overpass, and Train. We expect the ban/pick phase to proceed as follows:
- Bans: FaZe almost always ban Train first. Train was only recently added back into the pool and FaZe have played it sparingly, if at all, making it by far their weakest map due to lack of practice. Team Liquid, on the other side, will likely ban Overpass in the first rotation. With Anubis gone, Overpass is a map that Liquid’s new roster hasn’t had much time to refine. Removing Overpass – which neither team is particularly comfortable on yet – is a logical move for Liquid to avoid being caught on an untested battleground.
- Picks: For their map pick, FaZe are expected to choose Ancient. Ancient has been one of FaZe’s strongest maps in 2025 – roughly a mid-50s% win rate – and it suits their style perfectly. FaZe’s experienced riflers and structured mid-round calling excel on Ancient’s CT-sided setups; notably, FaZe have beaten top teams (including Liquid in past meetings) on this map. Liquid’s likely pick would be Inferno. Inferno is a classic map that most of Liquid’s players are very familiar with, and Liquid have been decent on it (even if not dominant). More importantly, Inferno is a map where FaZe are good but not unbeatable – FaZe’s win rate on Inferno is around the middle of the pack for them. By picking Inferno, Liquid can leverage their comfortable setups and try to exploit any rust in FaZe’s coordination. It’s the map Liquid will feel gives them the best chance to steal a map in this series.
- Remaining vetoes: After the first picks, we move to the second ban phase. FaZe will likely remove Mirage at this stage. Mirage has been a problem map for FaZe in CS2 – they’ve struggled on Mirage, winning only roughly 20% of their Mirage games this year. It also happens to be a map where Liquid’s players (especially aim stars like Twistzz and NertZ) could cause trouble. Given that Liquid would love a brawl on Mirage and that FaZe were upset on Mirage in some past matchups, FaZe won’t want it in the pool. On the flip side, Liquid will probably ban Nuke in the second phase. Nuke has traditionally been a strong map for FaZe Clan; their teamwork and map control on Nuke are top-notch, and Liquid’s recent record on Nuke is quite poor. By eliminating Nuke, Liquid remove a map where FaZe’s tactical edge would be most pronounced. With Train and Overpass already gone, the second wave bans of Mirage and Nuke would be straightforward, each team cutting out a map that favors the opponent.
- Decider: If the veto unfolds as above, the remaining map (as decider) would be Dust2. A Dust2 decider sets up an interesting finish: Dust2 is a map both teams can play, but neither has been ultra-dominant on – it often comes down to individual prowess. FaZe’s firepower could shine on Dust2’s aim-heavy duels, as players like rain, frozen, and Twistzz (when he was on FaZe) have had huge performances on this map in the past. However, Liquid’s stars can thrive on Dust2 as well – Twistzz and NAF know the map intimately, and a loose, aim-driven map might actually help Liquid equalize some of FaZe’s strategic advantages. Statistically, FaZe’s Dust2 win rate in recent months has been modest (~40%), and Liquid’s hasn’t been much better, so it’s a fairly balanced battlefield. If we get to Dust2, expect a close contest where small mistakes or big clutches swing the outcome. FaZe’s greater experience under pressure might give them a slight edge in a tight Dust2 decider, but both sides would have a genuine chance on the final map.
Overall, the projected veto should allow each team to play to its comfort on one map – FaZe on Ancient, Liquid on Inferno – with a relatively even map left if it goes the distance. This map pool analysis supports the idea that each team can claim one map, pushing the series to three maps. FaZe’s broader map pool (they’ve played all seven maps this year) gives them flexibility, and they will aim to avoid their known pitfalls (Train and Mirage). Liquid’s map pool is still taking shape with this new roster, but by steering the match toward more “standard” maps like Inferno or Dust2, they increase their chances to be competitive. If it does go to a decider, FaZe’s experience and depth could be the tie-breaker on that final map.
Individual Player Stats
On paper, FaZe Clan boast a higher individual skill ceiling and a lineup stacked with battle-tested stars. In recent CS2 play, FaZe’s top performers have been frozen and EliGE. Frozen, a deadly rifler, has averaged roughly a 1.12 player rating over the past three months – he provides consistent multi-kills and has been a rock for FaZe in clutch situations. EliGE, who joined FaZe at the start of 2025 from Team Liquid, is hovering around a 1.10 rating in recent months. His rifling prowess and years of experience have bolstered FaZe’s firepower, and he’s especially impactful on comfort maps like Ancient (where his aggression shines). The returning AWPer broky historically sits around a 1.05–1.10 rating as well; he was a reliable sniper for FaZe before his brief bench period. There is a bit of uncertainty about broky’s current form after time off, but if he’s refreshed and motivated, he can once again be a steady force with the AWP. rain, as the entry fragger, often has the lowest stats of the fragging core (approximately a 1.00 rating recently), but his impact isn’t fully captured by numbers – he creates space and still delivers explosive rounds when needed. karrigan, the in-game leader, is the lowest-rated player on FaZe (around 0.90 in recent months), which is expected given his supportive role, but his true value lies in his mid-round calling and wealth of tactical knowledge. In summary, FaZe’s lineup features four players who are former Major champions, and any of them can step up with a big performance. Watch for frozen and EliGE to lead the frag charts for FaZe, while the key question will be whether broky can quickly return to top form and win the AWP duels.
Team Liquid, despite their recent struggles, also field a roster of very skilled individuals – though their cohesion as a unit is still a work in progress. The standout name is Russel “Twistzz” Van Dulken, one of the world’s top riflers, who rejoined Liquid after a championship stint with FaZe. Twistzz is currently around a 1.10 rating for 2025 and is known for his incredible mechanical aim and clutch ability. He will be especially fired up facing his former team, and Liquid will rely on his firepower to challenge FaZe. NAF is another star in Liquid’s ranks; a veteran of the team, NAF typically hovers around a 1.05–1.10 rating. He is renowned for his clutches and versatility – when NAF is on his game, he can turn impossible rounds in Liquid’s favor. NertZ, who was picked up from ENCE, has been posting roughly a 1.03 rating in recent months. He’s an aggressive playmaker who can be streaky but adds much-needed explosiveness to Liquid’s rifle corps. siuhy, the in-game leader, usually has more modest stats (around 0.90–0.95 rating) due to focusing on calling, but he proved with GamerLegion and MOUZ that he can frag when needed. Siuhy’s leadership is a work in progress with this international lineup – his mid-round calls and how well he can counter karrigan will be crucial. Rounding out the team is ultimate, the primary AWPer for Liquid. Ultimate is a newer name at this level and has been averaging roughly a 1.00 rating in limited Tier-1 matches. He has big shoes to fill (Liquid’s previous AWPer oSee was inconsistent, and they’ll hope ultimate can provide more impact). This match is a huge opportunity for ultimate to prove himself against a top team – he’ll need to hold his own against broky. Overall, Liquid’s individuals have plenty of talent and even Major-winning pedigree (Twistzz and NAF are Major champions). The gap between the teams in pure skill isn’t enormous, but FaZe’s players have a longer track record of delivering under pressure together. If Liquid want to win or even push this to the limit, they’ll need a peak performance from Twistzz and NAF, and a breakout series from someone like NertZ or ultimate to match FaZe’s star power. Otherwise, FaZe’s collective experience and slightly more consistent fragging across the board should give them the edge in player-to-player comparisons.
Risk Assessment
Betting on an exact 2–1 scoreline carries a medium-high risk. While we are confident FaZe is the favored team, adding the condition that Liquid wins exactly one map introduces extra uncertainty. There is a real risk that FaZe could come out in dominant form and sweep 2–0, which would make our 2-1 bet a loss. FaZe have the capability to shut down Liquid entirely if everything clicks – for instance, if broky’s return sparks a flawless performance, Liquid might not get many openings and FaZe could straight-up roll. On the flip side, there’s also a smaller chance that Liquid could overperform and actually win the series (2–0 or 2–1 in their favor). If FaZe underestimates Liquid or shows rust, Liquid’s players are skilled enough to capitalize and pull an upset, which would also bust a bet on FaZe. However, considering all information, the most likely scenario still appears to be FaZe winning with a fight from Liquid that results in each team taking a map. FaZe have had occasional map lapses against lesser teams, and Liquid, despite their issues, have enough quality to exploit a lapse and secure a map (as they did against other top teams in the past). The matchup dynamics – FaZe’s advantage overall but Liquid’s potential on certain maps – indeed point toward a 2–1 type of result. In terms of risk profile, a correct score bet is inherently riskier than a simple moneyline, so you should stake accordingly and be prepared for variance. We judge the 2-1 outcome to be reasonably probable given the analysis, but not guaranteed. As always in a BO3, an unexpected map result could occur (e.g. Liquid steals FaZe’s map pick or vice versa). Thus, while our suggested bet aligns with a logical narrative of the series, bettors should approach it with moderate caution. The reward is higher for a reason – there are more ways for it to go wrong (either 2-0 or an upset loss). Overall, we find the risk acceptable in this case because the scenario of a competitive 2-1 FaZe win is well-supported by both teams’ profiles, but one should never stake more than one is willing to lose on a bet like this.
Bet Value
The value of the suggested bet “FaZe 2–1” is attractive compared to more straightforward bets on this match. Currently, FaZe are favored on the moneyline at roughly 1.50 to 1.65 odds for a simple win (depending on the bookmaker). In other words, a bet on FaZe just to win outright yields a relatively small return – you’d only earn about 50–65% profit on your stake if FaZe wins. In contrast, predicting the 2-1 exact score yields much longer odds in the ballpark of 2.8 to 3.2 (as shown by the odds from various bookies above). That means you could nearly triple your money if the bet hits. Given our analysis that Liquid have a decent chance to take one map but are unlikely to win two, the 2-1 correct score outcome has a strong logical basis and the payoff for it is disproportionately high. Rather than placing a large stake on the low-return moneyline, we prefer the 2–1 scoreline wager because it offers a superior risk/reward balance. You’re essentially leveraging the insight that this could be a competitive series, not a blowout. Of course, no bet is “safe” – there is always a trade-off between risk and reward – but here the odds on 2-1 are generous considering the likelihood of that scenario. In summary, the 2-1 bet provides good value: it capitalizes on a plausible match outcome while significantly amplifying the potential winnings compared to a standard bet on the favorite. This makes it a smart value play for those confident in FaZe ultimately winning, but not without Liquid putting a map on the board.
