Russel Twistzz Van Dulken finished 11th in HLTV’s Top 20 Players of 2025, securing his sixth career appearance on the list. His ranking was driven by elite individual numbers against top opposition and a powerful late-season surge, capped by a deep Major run with FaZe Clan.
A familiar name at the top level
Twistzz has been part of the Top 20 conversation for most of his career. Since his debut in 2018 with Liquid, he has consistently hovered around the elite tier, peaking during Liquid’s Grand Slam era and later becoming a key piece of FaZe’s international core. After an uneven return to Team Liquid in 2024, 2025 became a year of reset. The Canadian rifler spent the first half of the season carrying Liquid through difficult periods, often standing out statistically despite poor team results.
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Carrying Liquid through turbulence
Liquid entered 2025 in rebuilding mode. Results were inconsistent, but Twistzz remained the team’s most reliable performer. Across events like ESL Pro League Season 21, BLAST Open Lisbon, IEM Melbourne, and IEM Dallas, he repeatedly topped Liquid’s scoreboard and kept the team competitive.
Even during Liquid’s lowest points — including early Major exits and group-stage eliminations — Twistzz maintained strong output. At the Austin Major, he finished as Liquid’s highest-rated player despite the team going out early. This stretch defined the first half of his season: high individual impact without team success.
The turning point: return to FaZe
The second half of 2025 changed everything. Twistzz rejoined FaZe and immediately looked at home. His debut event, ESL Pro League Season 22, was explosive. He posted a 1.32 rating, earned an EVP award, and helped FaZe reach the latter stages despite limited preparation.
While FaZe struggled at CS Asia Championships and IEM Chengdu, Twistzz continued to deliver individually. He remained the team’s best performer even during losses, reinforcing his reputation as one of the most stable riflers in the game.
StarLadder Budapest Major: the late-season charge
Twistzz’s strongest argument for 11th place came at the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025. FaZe entered the event without high expectations but improved round by round.
Twistzz stepped up when it mattered most:
- Strong performances in Stage 2 and Stage 3
- Key fragging displays in playoffs
- A standout semi-final against Natus Vincere
- A solid showing in the grand final against Vitality
He finished the Major with an EVP award and was one of FaZe’s most consistent players throughout the run.
Why Twistzz ranked 11th
Twistzz earns 11th place thanks to a strong statistical profile and elite playoff impact:
- 1.17 overall rating in 2025
- Excellent numbers against top teams (1.15 vs top 5, 1.15+ vs top 10)
- Strong elimination and playoff ratings
- Three EVP awards late in the season
However, his placement stopped just outside the Top 10 for clear reasons. He had fewer standout events across the full year, a limited sample of playoff maps, and one severe dip at IEM Cologne. Compared to players above him, his season lacked sustained dominance from start to finish.
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A proven elite rifler
If I do my role to the best of my ability, the results come naturally, Twistzz said about his Top 20 recognition.
In 2025, Twistzz once again proved why he remains one of Counter-Strike’s most respected riflers. His late-season form showed he can still perform at the very highest level. With a full year in a stable FaZe lineup ahead, a return to the Top 10 in 2026 looks entirely possible.
