In Copenhagen, the ESL Pro League Season 22 featured a crucial elimination match between FaZe Clan and Inner Circle. Both teams entered with identical 1–2 records in the Swiss stage, meaning only one could survive. The stakes were clear: the winner would continue the fight for playoffs, while the loser would exit the tournament. In this do-or-die battle, FaZe showed their true strength, claiming a confident 2:0 victory (13:7 Ancient, 13:9 Nuke), while the Ukrainian roster Inner Circle bid farewell to the league after a short but memorable run.
Road to the match
FaZe Clan arrived at ESL Pro League S22 after a turbulent few months. The organization had gone through roster adjustments, a loss of consistency, and even a controversial technical forfeit in their opening match against G2. However, the team slowly regained rhythm — a 2:0 win over Astralis reignited their form, but losses to 3DMAX and Falcons once again pushed FaZe to the brink of elimination. This matchup against Inner Circle became their moment of truth.
Inner Circle, on the other hand, were one of the season’s biggest surprises. The Ukrainian lineup earned their spot through impressive performances in regional qualifiers and immediately made headlines with a shocking 2:0 victory over The MongolZ. Yet tougher challenges followed — defeats to Spirit (1:2) and FURIA (0:2) forced them into survival mode. The match versus FaZe was their last chance to stay in contention, and while they showed determination and heart, the experience gap proved too wide.
Ancient — FaZe take control from the first rounds
The series began on Ancient, picked by Inner Circle. The Ukrainians had a solid start, displaying coordinated attacks and creative site splits on B. The first half ended evenly (6:6), suggesting a close contest — but after the switch, everything changed.
FaZe immediately seized momentum. frozen and broky completely shut down the map, executing flawless trades and holding the defense with precision. FaZe won seven straight rounds, leaving their opponents without answers. Final score: 13:7, and karrigan’s men took the first step toward survival.
Nuke — experience and composure make the difference
The second map, Nuke, was far more contested. Inner Circle looked strong early on, using quick rotations and unorthodox defensive setups to keep FaZe guessing. The first half ended in another tie (6:6), and the Ukrainians seemed capable of pushing the series further.
However, FaZe proved once again why they remain among the world’s elite. karrigan read the game perfectly, adapting the tempo and out-calling his opponents. Twistzz and frozen dominated the duels, while broky provided crucial AWP impact in key rounds. The turning point came between rounds 17–20, when FaZe stopped two late pushes from Inner Circle in the final seconds — a blow that broke their opponents mentally. FaZe sealed Nuke 13:9, taking the series 2:0 and staying alive in the tournament.
Player statistics
Individual performances
- David “frozen” Čerňanský was the MVP of the match, showing exceptional consistency and confidence. His stats — 34–19 K–D, 82.5 ADR, and a 1.45 HLTV 3.0 rating — highlighted his dominance.
- Russel “Twistzz” Van Dulken continued his great form with 33–24 K–D, 83.2 ADR, and a 1.41 rating, terrorizing opponents with his trademark headshots.
- Helvijs “broky” Saukants also impressed — 31–20 K–D, 1.25 rating, and several crucial clutches on Nuke.
- Finn “karrigan” Andersen masterfully controlled the pace, making intelligent mid-round calls and creating the space his stars needed to shine.
For Inner Circle, the standout was Artem “cairne” Mushynskyi — 30–30 K–D, 81.4 ADR, 1.27 rating — who led his team by example and won several key duels against FaZe’s riflers. Yet, his teammates couldn’t match his impact: Dawy (0.92) and nifee (0.80) fought hard but lacked consistency, while on1c and Flierax struggled to find rhythm.
Tournament implications
With this victory, FaZe Clan improved to 2–2 in the Swiss stage, keeping their playoff hopes alive at ESL Pro League Season 22. The next match will be decisive in determining whether they can fully bounce back and return to title contention after a rocky start.
For Inner Circle, the loss marks the end of their ESL Pro League journey. They finish with a 1–3 record, but leave a lasting impression — their aggressive style, tactical courage, and upset win over The MongolZ proved that even young, ambitious lineups can challenge the best.
Summary
- FaZe proved that experience and structure remain the foundation of stability, even under pressure.
- frozen reaffirmed his status as one of the top riflers in the world, capable of carrying his team when it matters most.
- Inner Circle exit the tournament with pride, having earned respect for their fearless approach and competitive spirit.
FaZe continue their fight for survival at ESL Pro League S22, and their victory over Inner Circle stands as a symbol of resilience — a match where experience, teamwork, and individual brilliance came together to spark a revival.
