FaZe Clan, along with other elite teams like Ninjas in Pyjamas, OG Esports, and Team Vitality, all won convincingly by a score of 2-0 on the first day of Group C in the seventeenth edition of the EPL. By achieving these results, they proved their power and dominance in the arena of competition and carried on with their quest for the coveted $1,000,000 prize.
FaZe’s victory stood out among the four teams, though, as it might have foreshadowed their return to the top of the rankings. After seeing a drop in performance toward the end of 2022, the team has been working hard to reclaim their prior glory.
By evaluating their performance during the ESL Pro League S17 Group Stage and predicting their chances of making it to the Playoffs, we will examine karrigan and his team’s current form below. So let’s begin now without further ado!
Team’s Recent Results
Source: dotesports.com
Until recently, the American organization struggled to reclaim its former dominance in the competitive CS:GO scene. They had previously won several csgo s tier tournaments, including:
- IEM Katowice S16
- EPL S15
- PGL Major Antwerp 2022
- IEM Cologne S17
- IEM Road to Rio 2022
However, the team’s performance fell off in the second half of 2022, and they were unable to have an impact at IEM Katowice, the first S-Tier competition of the 2024 season. As evidenced by their unexpected elimination from the Group Stage of the Polish tournament, it became apparent that FaZe, in its current form, was no longer capable of competing for significant victories.
Despite the individual players’ expectations to perform well under pressure, the team’s recent struggles were recognized by everyone in the CS:GO community, including the organization itself. Nonetheless, with their wealth of experience in winning, the karrigan and co. lineup began to exhibit their potential in the ongoing Group Stage of the EPL.
FaZe vs. Rooster in Group C
FaZe Clan faced Rooster in their first match of ESL Pro League S17. It was widely expected that the Americans would dominate the matchup, making them the clear favorites to win. Below is a recap of the game.
Map 1: Nuke (16-6)
FaZe established a commanding lead on the CT side of the opening map of the series with an 11-4 score in the first half, showcasing their dominance from the outset.
They maintained their superiority in the second half, winning 4 straight games to take a commanding 15-4 lead. Ultimately, they secured the map victory with a 16-6 score, with Russel “Twistzz” Van Dulken standing out with an impressive 107.1 ADR and a rating of 1.72.
Map 2: Inferno (16-7)
The second map of the series was Inferno, which was picked by Rooster. The Australian team initially had the upper hand, controlling the match with a 4-0 lead on the T side. With the help of their Latvian sniper, FaZe mounted a comeback, took the lead, and won the first half 8-7.
In the second half, FaZe went on a winning streak, winning eight consecutive rounds to finish the map 16-7 and take the series 2-0. Notably, Helvijs “broky” Saukants played exceptionally well, with 85.7 ADR and a 1.50 rating.
Source: twitter.com
Next Matchups for FaZe Clan
FaZe Clan has two important matchups ahead of them in order to secure their spot in the playoffs of the ESL Pro League S17. Their first opponent will be NiP, who was upset by paiN Gaming in the opening match of Group C. Although paiN Gaming put up a good fight, FaZe is expected to come out on top in this matchup based on bookmakers’ odds.
Team Vitality, their second opponent, presents a more difficult challenge because they have already won two games in their group without suffering any significant losses to GhG and OG. FaZe, however, is committed to giving it their all and qualifying for the ESL Pro League playoffs.
Moreover, FaZe Clan has their sights set on the Intel Ground Slam tournament, which they could potentially win if they continue to perform well. Winning the EPL season 17 would earn them an additional $1,000,000 in prize money. Overall, FaZe Clan is preparing for some challenging matchups, but they are optimistic about their chances of success in both the ESL Pro League and the Intel Ground Slam tournament.
