S1mple's FaZe Debut At IEM Dallas Shows Promise Despite Liquid Loss

“S1mple’s FaZe Debut At IEM Dallas Shows Promise Despite Liquid Loss”

s1mple’s debut for FaZe might need been spoiled by the 0-2 loss, however all issues thought-about, the FaZe camp has various positives to carry onto. For one, s1mple hasn’t misplaced his hearth. That alone bodes properly; it means the early indicators of this gamble are pointing in the appropriate route. And if I’m karrigan, that’s all the reassurance I want. Every part else might be fastened. Now, earlier than the ideas fade into the void, let me go over what stood out to me whereas watching the match.

s1mple is right here to play — that’s the silver lining

For my part, the veto ought to’ve leaned FaZe’s means. Actually, had Inferno been the primary map, we is likely to be speaking a couple of totally different consequence. However let’s not cry over what may’ve been. There isn’t a denying that Liquid is a formidable opponent, and this was s1mple’s first official in six months. Even in defeat, he nonetheless managed a 1.12 ranking.

Evaluate it to broky: the final time he scraped collectively a ranking above 1.10 towards a top-10 opponent was three months in the past towards MOUZ. So, truthful play to s1mple, he’s already trying like an improve, even after only one match. Furthermore, what he brings isn’t simply numbers, it’s presence. That star issue FaZe’s been lacking, and it will have extra implications than simply spherical wins. FaZe had been throwing away man-advantages left and proper, and with that, the workforce’s confidence had slowly drained away. However being on the profitable finish of these 1v4s? That lifts the spirit. That brings life again into the squad.

Why did FaZe lose towards Liquid?

To reply that query, it’s pretty simply conceivable. Whereas the T-side of FaZe was what sparked life into the collection, the CT sides had been atrocious. 4 rounds on Historic, three on Inferno, even with pistol rounds and power buys in hand, simply exhibits how poor they had been when it got here to gun rounds.

Historic CT has been a thorn in FaZe’s facet for some time. They’ve scraped 4 rounds towards Falcons, three towards Astralis (twice), and 6 towards The MongolZ. Right this moment’s 4 rounds weren’t a lot better, however the indicators felt totally different. A whole lot of finish rounds led to this adversity, however s1mple was patching up holes because the rotator in the course of the mid rounds. Being one of many smartest minds in Counter-Strike, s1mple’s consciousness might be the lacking piece in FaZe’s protection. Not simply that, however his confidence to reclaim territory and his capacity to commerce can be utilized to patch up the damaged CT sides. That’s one thing FaZe had been missing. And when rain returns, one in all FaZe’s higher performers on the map, this may lastly begin to click on.

Team Liquid at IEM Melbourne 2025 — Picture by way of ESL

On Inferno, EliGE and skullz each had tough outings. For these out of the loop, FaZe’s by no means actually nailed down their CT setup on Inferno. The roles maintain shifting. When EliGE got here in, he took A Lengthy, and rain was requested to anchor Pit. However EliGE struggled there, and now he’s moved to B, although that didn’t appear to assist a lot. Nonetheless, it’s a brand new place, and I’m keen to offer him a move. Identical goes for skullz. He by no means performed pit in FURIA, and now he’s requested to carry arguably an important a part of the map.

Furthermore, on Inferno, the place retakes are a nightmare, you want your anchors to carry their floor, and neither did, which turned out to be the recipe for catastrophe. In contrast to Historic, this isn’t one thing that should command the workforce’s elementary sport. It’s merely as much as the gamers to determine how they wish to play these positions. And once more, rain coming again may ease issues a bit.

One factor nonetheless nags at me…

Sure, there have been loads of good indicators. However I’m nonetheless nervous about one factor. This was the primary sport, contemporary blood within the roster, good vibes throughout. The boys had been laughing even after a 4-8 half on Historic. However let’s not neglect what this workforce seemed like simply weeks in the past, drained, tilted, out of sync.

I stated s1mple’s clutch issue may revive the temper, and I stand by that. However he’s nonetheless a double-edged sword. Even in his first match, there have been moments the place the frustration crept in. FaZe is a workforce that lives and dies by vitality. That’s how karrigan does his greatest work. However as soon as the honeymoon section ends and we’re again to the weekly grind, if outcomes don’t observe, the temper can go south actual quick. And we’ve seen that story earlier than.

But when the vibes maintain, and this spark doesn’t fade, FaZe may simply claw their means again into the highest 5 earlier than most count on.