After a surprising trade between FaZe and Liquid, Jonathan “EliGE” Jablonowski once again put on the blue jersey, declaring that he is ready to “cause some damage” to his opponents at the CS Asia Championships 2025. Despite having minimal preparation time, the American believes that the new Liquid roster can quickly find chemistry and deliver results right from the first matches in Shanghai.
THE BIG TRADE BETWEEN FAZE AND LIQUID
The end of September became a hot topic for the scene — FaZe and Liquid completed a rare direct swap, exchanging two of North America’s biggest CS stars: Russel “Twistzz” Van Dulken returned to FaZe, while EliGE came back home to Liquid.
For both players, it’s a return to familiar ground: Twistzz had already won a Major with FaZe, while EliGE spent nearly eight years with Liquid before his stints in Complexity and FaZe. Now, both are seen as key pieces in rebuilding their respective organizations.
A NEW START FOR ELIGE IN AN OLD HOME
After officially rejoining Liquid on September 25, EliGE barely had time to adapt — the team immediately traveled to the Birch Cup in Gdańsk, where they finished third. Now, Liquid are preparing for the CS Asia Championships 2025, and Jonathan admits that returning feels “like a new beginning, but in a familiar environment.”
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I just couldn’t wait to wear this jersey again. Yes, we’ve had little time to practice, but even under these conditions, we can make some noise here in Shanghai.
“IN LIQUID, WE SPEAK THE SAME LANGUAGE”
Unlike his brief period in FaZe, where his vision of the game didn’t always align with the team’s philosophy, EliGE immediately felt comfortable in Liquid’s new lineup. According to him, the siuhy + flashie system is exactly the kind of structure that allows him to play at his best.
In FaZe, we spoke different Counter-Strike languages. Here, it’s different — we think alike, we understand what we’re doing on the map, and I can play naturally without suppressing my own ideas.
LIQUID ON THE ROAD TO STABILITY
The team currently sits at #13 in the HLTV world ranking and shows steady growth after a difficult summer. New captain siuhy, who joined from MOUZ, is implementing a more structured approach, while coach flashie ensures discipline and strategic depth. Despite limited time together, Liquid finally seem to be forming a system capable of competing with the world’s elite. In his first month back, EliGE has delivered a 1.18 Rating 3.0 across 31 maps, with impressive firepower (91/100) and opening duel (91/100) statistics. The team staff said:
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The results are still ahead, but the foundation is there.
“MINIMUM GOAL — REACH THE PLAYOFFS”
Speaking about his expectations for the tournament in China, EliGE remains realistic but confident:
I always think this way: the minimum goal is to reach the playoffs. Yes, we haven’t practiced much, but I feel this roster can win. And let this be just the first step.
Liquid will open CAC 2025 against GamerLegion, followed by a series of evenly matched opponents. The main goal isn’t the title — it’s to build maximum synergy before the StarLadder Budapest Major.
TWISTZZ AND FAZE — A NEW CHAPTER IN AN OLD STORY
Meanwhile, FaZe have strengthened their lineup by bringing back one of the most successful players in their history. Twistzz has reunited with karrigan, broky, and frozen, forming the “classic core” that once dominated the global CS scene. Now, under NEO’s leadership, the team ranks #11 in the world but aims to break back into the top five before the Major begins.
Twistzz isn’t just a player — he’s FaZe’s energy. We’re happy to see him home again.
WHAT’S NEXT
For both sides, this trade symbolizes a “fresh start.” Liquid regained their old leader with renewed motivation, while FaZe reclaimed their talisman who knows how to win major trophies. The CS Asia Championships will serve as the first stage where both clubs test their updated rosters — and it seems this is only the beginning of a much bigger story leading up to Budapest.
