The recent move hints at why Twistzz has a bigger trophy cabinet.
The two greatest players in North American Counter-Strike history, Russel “Twistzz” Van Dulken and Jonathan “EliGE” Jablonowski, have recently traded places on FaZe Clan and Team Liquid.
These two ex-teammates, once Grand Slam winners together in 2019, now repel each other. Since then, Twistzz has gone on to win another Grand Slam and Major title with FaZe in 2022. EliGE still retains more individual awards than Twistzz. EliGE joined FaZe in 2025, but failed to gain any trophies trophies, and left the team in August this year. Twistzz promptly rejoined FaZe in September after EliGE had been removed.
Their avoidance of each other has curiously offered us a data point that we were incredibly unlikely to get as CS fans. We get to see the two greatest NA players ever trade places overnight and try to shine in each other’s shoes. This is as if Messi and Ronaldo had gone to Real Madrid and Barcelona, respectively, and we could see what changed.
After seeing FaZe and Liquid’s first performances, we can already see drastic differences in what Twistzz and EliGE bring to a team. It shows that they fundamentally differ in how they approach team Counter-Strike.
Twistzz the glue guy
There’s something about this new FaZe team that just works, where the one with EliGE failed. It’s like the feeling when picking up a bike for the first time in years, and feeling everything lock into place – without even being aware of it.
Twistzz came off of a turbulent stint in Team Liquid, which was mired with clashes with the in-game leader. He subsequently appointed himself as the captain. Twistzz’s off-the-server stories from Liquid might have painted him as capricious in the eyes of his coach, as EliGE was also criticized for having a difficult personality by his ex-teammate in 2016. However, when Twistzz steps into the server with FaZe, a different personality emerges.
On-the-server Twistzz is the total opposite of capricious. A selfless star, he’s off-camera when he has the most impact. They’re always those one or two bombsite entries right after the pop of a flash. They come in an instant and with precision, making it hard for the observer to predict, and then disappears into the backlines. Like the drummer or bassist of a rock band, he’s setting the tempo that his teammates follow. And when it goes off pace, he keeps it calm, steadily marking the rhythm. On that rhythm, broky goes bananas, ropz and frozen delete deliciously. Instead of taking space and trying to capitalize on it, he holds onto it, creating an opportunity for his team.
Here we have an example of a round from the ongoing ESL Pro League Season 22, illustrating Twistzz’s proficiency in playing around his teammates.
Whatever kills or information he gets after the fact, is just a product of his own good aim. Sometimes, his teammates will make mistakes and he takes more shine. But he’s never the player expressly looking for the winning play, which brings me to his counterpart.
EliGE the perfectionist
Wherever EliGE goes, expectations follow. The player has already put out statements calling Team Liquid’s play “messy” in the aftermath of playing their first matches. Even considering that Liquid is a fresh team without practice, his words still imply that the team has to follow some sort of set structure he will help implement.
EliGE brings high demands and ambition. Even when unspoken by the players themselves, it can be felt by his constant disappointment when things don’t go his way. He’s always looking for the precise solution that will lead his team to victory.
Unlike Twistzz, EliGE is a capricious player on the server. Things cannot be disorganized when he’s there; they must have their rhyme or reason. While Twistzz intuitively sets the rhythm for his team, EliGE does it intellectually through concepts and discipline. Twistzz works in the background by complementing others, EliGE has the accountability to change things himself. Winning or losing is on EliGE’s doorstep while Twistzz is a facilitator towards a win.
We saw that since EliGE rejoined, NAF has recovered his form miraculously. He was more clutch and savvy about the nature of each round, like he has made us used to throughout the years. Perhaps EliGE’s expression of what he wants allows intuitive players like NAF to find himself easily, like Twistzz does with karrigan by his side.
Conclusion
Twistzz and EliGE’s development as players have shown us that they prefer different team structures. Twistzz has proven to be one of the best “glue guys” in team esports, as EliGE stands out as NA’s greatest classic super-star, confirmed by their latest roster swap.
Taking this into account, it’s no wonder how Twistzz might have ended up with more trophies than EliGE. Being able to recognize and nurture the talent of others is a sure-fire way to success. But is it the same as making the winning move yourself?
