FaZe Clan has confirmed that Håvard “rain” Nygaard is moving to the bench, bringing an end to one of the longest and most iconic runs in CS2 esports history. The move clears the way for Russel “Twistzz” Van Dulken’s dramatic return from Liquid in a blockbuster trade involving Jonathan “EliGE” Jablonowski.
A Decade of Legacy
Rain has been FaZe’s cornerstone since January 2016, when the org made its entrance into CS by acquiring the G2 roster. In almost a decade of service, the Norwegian rifler collected 19 trophies, including the PGL Antwerp 2022 Major and an Intel Grand Slam. He earned four MVP medals — most notably at Antwerp — and appeared in the HLTV Top 20 three times, last at #13 in 2022.
Rain Speaks: No Retirement, New Chapter
Source: Håvard Nygaard X/Twitter. Edited photo
The Final Matches & FaZe’s Next Chapter
Rain’s last run in the FaZe jersey came at FISSURE Playground 2, where FaZe crashed out in 9th–11th place after defeats to Falcons, The MongolZ, and Liquid. It marked the third event with Jakub “jcobbb” Pietruszewski, who replaced EliGE in August.
Playground #2Serbia, Belgrade, Belgrade Arena
FURIA
The MongolZ
Team LiquidFaZe will return to action at ESL Pro League Season 22 Stage 2 on October 4. With Twistzz back in the lineup, karrigan and co. aim to break an 18-month trophy drought stretching back to IEM Chengdu 2024. Fans will be watching closely: can Twistzz reignite FaZe’s championship DNA?
Season 22Sweden
Vitality
Falcons Esports
MOUZCurrent FaZe Roster
- Finn “karrigan” Andersen
- David “frozen” Čerňanský
- Helvijs “broky” Saukants
- Jakub “jcobbb” Pietruszewski
- Russel “Twistzz” Van Dulken
- Filip “NEO” Kubski (coach)
- Håvard “rain” Nygaard (benched)
- Olof “olofmeister” Kajbjer (benched)
Looking Ahead
Rain’s benching closes one of the most storied eras in CS history — but it could also spark a new one. With Twistzz’s firepower returning and rain’s potential IGL switch looming, the CS2 scene is bracing for another seismic shift. One thing’s certain: FaZe may be changing, but rain’s legacy is untouchable.