Team Liquid stands as one of Counter-Strike’s most storied organizations. If you’re looking to understand Liquid CS2 — their journey, current roster, and competitive legacy — this guide covers everything you need to know about North America’s flagship team.
Who Is Team Liquid?
Team Liquid is a multi-regional esports organization that was founded in the year 2000, based in the Netherlands. Initially, Team Liquid was just a clan of Starcraft 2: Wings of Liberty. Team Liquid’s CS:GO roster came only after their NA Dota 2 team, in 2015.
When the CS:GO roster of Team Liquid was set, there weren’t many chances for fans to celebrate initially. Only in 2016 did the CS:GO roster manage to get to the finals of ESL One Cologne — that’s when history was made: Liquid were the first North American team that attended a major final in this discipline.
Since then, Liquid has become synonymous with North American excellence in Counter-Strike.
Current Liquid CS2 Roster (2026)
The Team Liquid CS2 roster includes Keith “NAF” Markovic (Canada, age 27) – Rifler – Joined on February 5, 2018; Russel “Twistzz” Van Dulken (Canada, age 25) – Rifler – Joined on December 7, 2023; Roland “ultimate” Tomkowiak (Poland, age 21) – AWPer – Joined on July 12, 2024; Guy “NertZ” Iluz (Israel, age 26) – Rifler – Joined on January 6, 2025; Kamil “siuhy” Szkaradek (Poland, age 22) – IGL – Joined on April 4, 2025.
As of September 5, 2025, the head coach of Team Liquid’s CS2 team is Viktor Tamás “flashie” Bea. He officially assumed the role of Team Liquid CS2 Coach on July 9, 2025.
| Player | Role | Nationality | Notable Trait |
|---|---|---|---|
| NAF | Rifler | Canada | Veteran consistency, clutch specialist |
| Twistzz | Rifler | Canada | Mechanical elite, multi-kill potential |
| ultimate | AWPer | Poland | Aggressive style, opening picks |
| NertZ | Rifler | Israel | Proactive space creation |
| siuhy | IGL | Poland | Tactical mastermind, role clarity |
The 2025 rebuild reunited elite firepower (Twistzz), added proactive space creation (NertZ), locked in a full-time IGL (siuhy), and installed a dedicated coach (flashie).
Team Liquid’s Playstyle
Understanding how Liquid approaches the game helps you appreciate their matches — and potentially steal some tactics for your own ranked games.
T-Side Approach
Early round: slow-lean defaults for map control; ultimate contests key lines, NertZ pressures mid/connector spaces. Mid-rounding: siuhy favors info-driven pivots off utility counts and sound cues; NAF lurks for backstabs or flank control. Execs: layered execs (first wave for space, second for plant/post) with Twistzz as the decisive closer.
CT-Side Approach
CT side: Twistzz/NAF handle anchor roles; ultimate rotates to shut down late hits; NertZ floats for fast trades.
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Recent Tournament Results
Here are some of Team Liquid’s most recent achievements in 2025: IEM Melbourne 2025 (April 21 – April 27, 2025) – S-Tier, 5th–6th place, Prize: $72,500; IEM Dallas 2025 (May 19 – May 25, 2025) – S-Tier, 9th–12th place, Prize: $25,000; ESL Pro League Season 21 (March 1 – March 16, 2025) – A-Tier, 5th–8th place, Prize: $58,000.
They secured 3rd place at the CS Asia Championships 2025 and FISSURE Playground #2, earning $60,000 and $130,000 respectively. Other notable placements include 5th at PGL Masters Bucharest 2025 and BLAST Bounty Fall 2025.
Liquid’s Golden Era: 2019
No discussion of Liquid CS2 is complete without acknowledging their dominant 2019 run.
Their longest winning streak was an impressive 23 matches, from June 19, 2019, to August 28, 2019.
The Liquid CS2 team won the prestigious Intel Grand Slam Season 2 in 2019, establishing their dominance.
During this period, Liquid was undeniably the best team in the world, winning four major tournaments in just 63 days.
Historic Achievements
They have achieved 19 first-place finishes, 31 second-place finishes, and 27 third-place finishes in various tournaments.
Their ranking history shows fluctuations, with their best ranking being 1st (achieved on 2020-08-24) and their worst being 50th (on 2023-11-22).
Team Liquid Counter-Strike team has made $6,303,257 in prize money from CS2 tournaments.
Legendary Former Players
Several iconic names have worn the Liquid jersey and shaped esports history:
- EliGE — The face of Liquid for nearly a decade, consistently carrying the team through their golden era
- Stewie2K — Aggressive rifler/AWPer who brought championship mentality
- nitr0 — Former IGL who led Liquid to their 2019 dominance
- s1mple — Ukrainian superstar who briefly played for Liquid in 2016
During EliGE’s period, the team won 4 major tournaments in just 63 days, and he consistently carried Liquid through their golden era with top-tier performances.
Roster Timeline: 2024-2025
The transition from CS:GO to CS2 brought significant changes:
Dec 27, 2024: Liquid bench YEKINDAR; interim shuffles begin. Jan 6, 2025: NertZ signs. Apr 4, 2025: siuhy joins on trial loan. Apr 22, 2025: Liquid formally parts ways with YEKINDAR. Jun 11, 2025: siuhy signs permanently. Jul 9, 2025: flashie becomes head coach.
Why Liquid Matters to CS2
Team Liquid represents the heartbeat of North American Counter-Strike. When Liquid succeeds, NA esports thrives. Their journey from 2015 underdog to 2019 world champion to current rebuild shows the resilience required at the highest level.
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Key Strengths and Challenges
Strengths
Star rifling depth (Twistzz + NertZ) with NAF clutch equity. Clear IGL voice (siuhy) improving mid-round cohesion. AWP presence (ultimate) controls early-round tempo.
Areas to Watch
Closing deciders: conversion rates vs. elite teams fluctuate. CT-side volatility: trading % and mid-round info plays can swing series.
Conclusion
Liquid CS2 continues to evolve as one of Counter-Strike’s most prestigious organizations. With a rebuilt roster featuring veteran firepower and fresh tactical leadership, they remain a force in competitive play. Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to the scene, understanding Liquid’s history and current form helps you appreciate the NA esports landscape.
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