After signing JBOEN in the summer, FaZe's roster improved their performance, reaching the semifinals at the XSE Pro League and securing two wins in the online stage of the BLAST Bounty to advance to the LAN finals in Malta.
However, the organization's lack of communication regarding the roster's future, particularly concerning Neityu, who joined as a stand-in nearly three months ago, and the status of Twistzz as the in-game leader, gives the impression that the lineup could still undergo changes.
To clarify the situation, HLTV interviewed Twistzz on media day ahead of the Bounty tournament finals, but didn't get the full answers they were hoping for, as the Canadian stated that both decisions rest with the organization.
Regarding his future in the IGL role, he said: "No matter what position I play, I have a long-term plan for it. I want to fully commit to this role, ensure I become the best version of myself, or rather, find my best self. I think that's how it will remain until FaZe decides otherwise."
"Until then, I will give everything I have to this team and become the best in-game leader I can be."
As for Neityu, Twistzz said: "That's something FaZe needs to sort out. I believe they're finalizing a contract, or there's something being worked out between the organization and his agency. But for now, he's here. We really enjoy playing with Ryan (Neityu), and we're just looking forward to continuing."
Q: You're here with a revamped FaZe. How does it feel to step into this tournament?
Twistzz: It feels great, obviously. I think we've achieved one of our goals. We always aim to reach the playoffs at every tournament we attend, so this is a big step forward. So far this season, we've competed in two events and reached the playoffs both times. Some results from the online stage were indeed a bit shocking, but despite that, we can't underestimate any opponent at this stage.
Q: Although most other top teams skipped XSE, you've already played a few events this season. Do you think this has given you a good start to the season, especially considering you reached the top four there and also advanced to the playoffs here?
Twistzz: Absolutely. I think for this roster, it's a huge step in learning how the team operates and getting to know Jason (JBOEN) better. We didn't have much practice time heading into that event, so it was really nice to see everyone's professional attitude and how much we could accomplish just by discussing the game. Yeah, it was definitely a huge boost to our progress.
Q: One thing that stands out is your performance on Cache. You've played it four times, and not a single team has even managed to score double digits against you. Is that because the map suits your playstyle, or because you've put more practice into it than other teams so far?
Twistzz: When this map was just re-added to the map pool, I think we were definitely one of the first teams to invest a lot of effort into it and not underestimate it. I was actually a bit frustrated at the time because I had spent so much time on Overpass, and then one morning it was just gone. I had about an hour and a half of theory sessions with the team on Overpass, full of all these new ideas, and then the next day it was all for nothing, so...
But I actually spent more time on Cache than I originally would have on Overpass. What I find special is that everyone worked really hard on this map, with each player discovering new things in their own areas. Everyone discussed how they wanted to handle their positions, which felt like a collective effort, and eventually, enkay J and I took charge of more areas on the T-side to lead the attacks from that side.
Of course, it's very rewarding, but I think we understand that precisely because we're considered the leaders of this map's meta, continuing to lead the meta and stay one step ahead requires putting in more time and effort. So when it comes to how to play this map, we absolutely don't want to fall behind.
Q: Is the map change advantageous for a team like yours? You've made changes to your roster and coaching staff, and while you don't necessarily need to start from scratch, you still have a lot of new things to work on. Could a new map be a factor that helps you gain an edge?
Twistzz: Yes, absolutely. I think having a new map added to the map pool is definitely beneficial for us. It's a fresh slate for all teams, so it puts us on a more level playing field when facing stronger opponents.
I remember having the same feeling about Anubis back when I was on Liquid. It just feels great to start gaining an edge on a map that's relatively new to everyone. I've always really liked Cache; back in my Liquid days, I felt we were the best Cache team around 2018 and 2019. I've always really appreciated this map. It was one of my favorites before it got removed, and I think the whole team truly enjoyed playing it.
Q: You mentioned the 2018 era. How much do you think the playstyle has changed since then? Because overall, the current meta seems somewhat similar to what was played back in 2018.
Twistzz: Yeah, when you look at the macro level and the big picture, even in the current game, you absolutely need to get every detail right to ensure your rounds on both T-side and CT-side look pretty solid. I just think there are too many new game mechanics and things like that that make it different.
We used to have skyboxes back then, but they're gone now. Plus, CS2 features a lot of refined details that weren't considered during the CS:GO era. You've got all kinds of spawn smokes for CTs and Ts, as well as smoke breaks. This map was fun to play back then, and I think it's even more fun now.
Q: I'd like to ask you more about yourself personally: you're the in-game leader for this team, and this is your second time taking on this role. Considering you went through an off-season without signing a new IGL and you stayed in that position, is this something you plan to stick with long-term now?
Twistzz: No matter what role I play on a team, I always have a long-term vision for it. I want to fully commit to this role and ensure I become the best version of myself, or rather, find my best self. I believe this will remain the case until FaZe decides otherwise. Until then, I will give everything I have to this team while being the best in-game leader I can be.
Q: A significant part of leadership lies in having a coach who shares your vision, so you can develop tactics together. How has your new coach been performing? Have you found common ground and established a system that you both agree on and can implement with the rest of the team?
Twistzz: Yeah, of course. I mean, we haven't really had much practice time. I think we had about a week of practice before this event and another week before XSE, plus that period during the online stage where we were balancing practice and official matches.
But enkay J and I often discuss the game, and we even make time to chat on our days off. He’s highly insightful, very reflective, and extremely efficient. He doesn’t worry too much about saying the wrong thing. I feel like he always manages to find the right words, even when a stricter tone is needed. For me, it’s incredibly important to feel like I have a coach by my side who is helping me and pushing me to improve in my role.
Q: Another new member of the team is JBOEN, who comes from an academy team, so stepping up to FaZe is a massive leap. At least judging by the stats, he's off to a very strong start. Considering he didn't have much experience when he joined, what's it been like playing with him?
Twistzz: Honestly, Jason doesn't really give off the vibe of a rookie. The way he handles rounds in-game, his clarity on what he wants to do, his communication... He already has a solid grasp of the fundamentals. I think that comes from the system BIG had established back then. He got the chance to work with gob b, and I believe he also had a few opportunities to play with the main roster.
So I think he learned a lot throughout that process, which makes us feel that in that regard, he isn't really an inexperienced player. More importantly, he's been able to figure things out on his own, like, 'Oh, maybe you can't peek that often against stronger teams.' Or, sometimes you have to show more respect to your opponents, while in other matches you need to show less. So far, it's been a great learning experience for him, and the team is very satisfied with him.
Q: Neityu has been with you for a bit longer, but he hasn't actually been officially announced as a long-term signing yet. Is this still in the works, or will he at least stay through the end of this season?
Twistzz: I think that's something FaZe needs to sort out. As players, we just focus on the immediate goals, which are the tournaments we're competing in. As for management, I believe they're finalizing a contract or working something out between the organization and his agency. But for now, he's here. We really enjoy playing with Ryan (Neityu), and we're just looking forward to continuing.
Q: You have the second pick in the draw, which means you only have two teams to prepare for. Does this give you a significant advantage, at least in the first round, since you've narrowed your preparation down to just two teams?
Twistzz: Yes, of course. Throughout the process, it's always better to be the one picking than to be picked, because you can narrow it down to a priority list, which allows you to prepare well in advance. It gives you an edge over other teams, and I think that's the case here as well.
I think paiN has the first pick, and I believe they've already locked in their opponent, so they only need to prepare for one team. Preparing for two matches isn't really a big deal. If you look at teams like Spirit and MOUZ, their situation is a bit worse because if they want to get their prep done early, they might have to prepare for multiple teams, plus they have a match tomorrow. Of course, being able to pick your opponent is definitely better.