Just yesterday, it seemed that the Major race for FaZe was nearly over and that the team had limited its own path to recovery. But new information around HLC Belgrade Pro has sharply changed the tone of this story: FaZe appear to have made it into the tournament before the deadline, meaning their Major race is not over yet.
FaZe’s participation in HLC brings them back into contention
The key development is that FaZe have indeed appeared among the participants of HLC Belgrade Pro. This matters not on its own, but in the context of recent days: earlier, there were suggestions that the team either failed to register in time or would not play the tournament at all. Now that narrative has effectively collapsed, and the logic shifts — FaZe have not been eliminated from the Major race by default and still have a viable path to earning points.
That is why all previous talk about a near-certain failure to qualify for the Major now looks premature. The situation remains difficult for FaZe, but it has returned to the realm of competitive opportunity rather than administrative self-elimination.
read more
Why this news is so important right now
FaZe’s problem in recent weeks was not only poor form, but also the sense that the team was losing even the tools needed for a comeback. If you are underperforming but still have tournaments to gain points, that is one situation. If you are underperforming and also missing out on events that could save your ranking, that is almost a death sentence.
That is why FaZe’s appearance in HLC Belgrade Pro changes several things at once:
- the team regains a chance to collect crucial points in the Major race;
- their qualification chances no longer look purely theoretical;
- previous pessimistic projections now need to be reconsidered.
In other words, HLC has suddenly shifted from a background event to a tournament that could realistically determine whether FaZe’s race continues for a few more days or ends entirely.
But with this opportunity comes a new scheduling problem
This is where the main complication arises. HLC Belgrade Pro takes place from April 3–5, while PGL Bucharest 2026 starts on April 4. If FaZe are indeed playing HLC, this creates a direct clash between the two tournaments. As a result, the team is left with very few comfortable options.
Essentially, the choices are as follows: either FaZe withdraw from PGL Bucharest, or they enter it under conditions where they risk receiving at least two default losses due to overlapping schedules. Formally, this does not automatically eliminate them from the Major race, but it creates a strange and highly stressful situation where every decision must be weighed not only in terms of prestige, but also its direct impact on qualification chances.
This is what makes the situation so uncomfortable for FaZe. The team may have received a lifeline, but it comes with another complex dilemma, where success depends not only on performance, but also on precise calendar management.
For FaZe, this is an opportunity, not a sign that the crisis is over
It is important not to confuse these two things. The fact that FaZe are back in the Major race does not mean they have suddenly solved their issues. The team still has poor momentum over recent months, inconsistent results, and very limited margin for error. Their core problems have not disappeared — they simply now have a chance to address them through matches rather than discussion.
This is the key analytical takeaway. HLC does not automatically “save” FaZe. It only gives them the right to fight. From there, everything once again comes down to the same question that has troubled the team recently: can this roster finally produce a consistent run of results when it matters most?
The Major race for FaZe is alive again, but the cost of mistakes is now even higher
FaZe’s appearance among the participants of HLC Belgrade Pro completely changes the narrative around their Major campaign. Just yesterday, it seemed that the team had cut off a crucial path to points, but now it turns out their Major race is still alive.
However, this is not purely good news — it is more of a return to a highly uncomfortable battle. FaZe once again have a chance to save their season and their Major status, but that chance now comes bundled with a scheduling conflict, result pressure, and the understanding that any new misstep could be the final one.
