Russel ‘Twistzz’ Van Dulken doesn’t think FaZe’s 0-2 group-stage loss to NAVI was the real version of his team. Speaking after FaZe’s 2-1 quarter-final upset over G2 at BLAST Rivals 2026, the new IGL framed the opening defeat as ‘first-event jitters’ — and the rematch as the chance to show ‘the real us.’
The G2 series that booked the rematch
FaZe vs G2 in the quarter-final was the most dramatic Bo3 of the tournament. FaZe took Dust2 13-11, dropped Ancient after a poor start let G2 build an 8-0 lead, and then closed Mirage 16-13 in overtime via a 2v5 clutch from Twistzz and frozen. HLTV called the Mirage finish a series-defining moment; Twistzz’s calling was credited as the connective tissue across both winning maps.
The arena factor
Twistzz called playing in front of a North American crowd a major motivator — his first arena home crowd in three years. He also publicly praised stand-in Neityu’s first big-stage performance, saying he ‘did not feel a drop-off in communication or decision-making’ from the Frenchman.
The rematch went NAVI’s way
For all the build-up, the semi-final didn’t deliver the upset. NAVI took Dust2 13-5 and survived a late FaZe comeback on Ancient to close the series 13-11. FaZe’s run ended at the semis, but the trajectory was the win — wins over FURIA and G2, a competitive series with the world No. 2 side, and a four-position climb back into the HLTV top 15. After a shaky start, Twistzz’s FaZe finally looked capable of contending with elite opponents.
