{"id":325940,"date":"2026-01-02T21:20:37","date_gmt":"2026-01-02T21:20:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/community.skin.club\/?p=325940"},"modified":"2026-01-02T21:20:37","modified_gmt":"2026-01-02T21:20:37","slug":"twistzz-hltv-top-20-2025-11th","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/community.skin.club\/en\/news\/twistzz-hltv-top-20-2025-11th","title":{"rendered":"Twistzz ranked 11th in the HLTV Top Players of 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"

Russel Twistzz Van Dulken finished 11th in HLTV\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

A familiar name at the top level<\/h3>\n

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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\u2019s Grand Slam era and later becoming a key piece of FaZe\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

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Carrying Liquid through turbulence<\/h3>\n

Liquid entered 2025 in rebuilding mode. Results were inconsistent, but Twistzz remained the team\u2019s most reliable performer. Across events like ESL Pro League Season 21, BLAST Open Lisbon, IEM Melbourne, and IEM Dallas, he repeatedly topped Liquid\u2019s scoreboard and kept the team competitive.<\/p>\n

Even during Liquid\u2019s lowest points \u2014 including early Major exits and group-stage eliminations \u2014 Twistzz maintained strong output. At the Austin Major, he finished as Liquid\u2019s highest-rated player despite the team going out early. This stretch defined the first half of his season: high individual impact without team success.<\/p>\n

The turning point: return to FaZe<\/h3>\n

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.<\/p>\n

While FaZe struggled at CS Asia Championships and IEM Chengdu, Twistzz continued to deliver individually. He remained the team\u2019s best performer even during losses, reinforcing his reputation as one of the most stable riflers in the game.<\/p>\n

StarLadder Budapest Major: the late-season charge<\/h3>\n

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Twistzz\u2019s strongest argument for 11th place came at the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025. FaZe entered the event without high expectations but improved round by round.<\/p>\n

Twistzz stepped up when it mattered most:<\/p>\n