Counter-Strike 2: FaZe and NaVi Crash Out Early at IEM Chengdu 2025 Two of Counter-Strike’s biggest names suffer shocking 0–2 eliminations ahead of the upcoming Budapest Major

Both FaZe Clan and Natus Vincere (NaVi) were eliminated early from IEM Chengdu 2025, crashing out of the double-elimination group stage with 0–2 records. The two legendary teams now share last place with Tyloo and 3DMAX—an outcome few could have predicted.

For fans, it’s not just an early exit; it’s a warning sign. With the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 just weeks away, both teams appear to be spiraling at the worst possible moment.

🔴 FaZe’s Fall From Dominance

FaZe’s downfall in Chengdu came swiftly with losses to Mouz and Virtus.pro. The defeats sting even more considering Mouz, long a rival that FaZe once dominated, now comfortably outplayed them.

Virtus.pro’s win was the final blow—an upset that highlighted FaZe’s steep decline.

The irony? FaZe entered Chengdu as the reigning champions, having won the same event in 2024 shortly after a runner-up finish at the PGL Copenhagen Major. That Chengdu victory was meant to symbolize a roster still capable of greatness despite inconsistency. Instead, it now marks the start of a slide.

Twistzz Shines, But FaZe Still Falters

Russel “Twistzz” Van Dulken’s return was meant to reignite FaZe’s spark—and individually, he’s delivering. He’s playing aggressively, taking risks, and performing with impact that recalls his 2022–23 form.

Unfortunately, his heroics haven’t been enough to mask deeper issues.

Jakub “jcobbb” Pietruszewski has struggled to find footing, and the departure of Håvard “rain” Nygaard has left a void in leadership and cohesion. Meanwhile, Helvijs “broky” Saukants recorded an abysmal 0.62 HLTV rating in Chengdu—numbers reminiscent of his slump before being benched earlier this year.

FaZe’s trademark chaos—once a defining weapon—is now predictable. Their trademark aggression has become easy to read, easy to counter, and easy to shut down.

Once the most dangerous team in Counter-Strike, FaZe’s failure at Chengdu was, sadly, expected.

🟡 NaVi’s Reality Check

NaVi’s story isn’t much brighter. After promising showings at StarSeries and the Thunderpick World Championship—where they finished second—the team seemed to be on the mend. But Chengdu served as a harsh reality check.

Losses to Astralis and Heroic sent NaVi home early. The problems? A shaky map pool and recurring inconsistency.

They even dropped their own pick, Ancient, to Heroic—a glaring sign of discomfort.

Underwhelming Opponents, Bigger Problems

NaVi’s defeats look even worse in context. Astralis played with a stand-in after Martin “stavn” Lund’s illness, and Heroic are still rebuilding after losing Álvaro “Sunpayus” García to G2 and their rifler tN1R to Spirit.

Despite that, NaVi couldn’t capitalize. Their inability to control tempo or adapt mid-series left them looking disjointed and uninspired.

The Ukrainian organization has repeatedly told fans to “trust the process” until the Major. But if Chengdu is any indication, that process may be failing fast.

🔥 Final Thoughts

For both FaZe and NaVi, IEM Chengdu 2025 was less a tournament and more a warning.

FaZe’s attempt to revive their golden era through Twistzz hasn’t fixed their deeper problems, and NaVi’s confidence boost from smaller events has already evaporated.

With the Budapest Major just around the corner, both teams face a hard truth: unless they can rediscover their identity, another early exit could be inevitable.