11th hour for a dying powerhouse – FaZe’s stake at Shanghai Major

An inundated ship, with a flagging and exasperated captain grasping at straws, and a crew struggling to find their footing, the narrative circling FaZe since their victory in Chengdu hasn’t been pretty. The team that was once deemed the best at the dawn of CS2, is now fighting for a relevancy among the upper echelons. Denied glory at the first ever CS2 major by a somewhat disruptive turnaround from NAVI in the final, FaZe approach the second Major with a shadow of their former dominance. However, a thriving result at the RMR, with an exception of a single loss to a Vitality, coupled with a back-in-form rain, breathes life into the aspirations of the international powerhouse at the Perfect World Shanghai 2024 Major. As they prepare to stake their claim at Shanghai, let us explore what this most prestigious Counter-Strike title signifies for the boys in red and black. 

karrigan’s ultimate test

 In a career as enduring as karrigan’s, this hasn’t been the first time that he has confronted a downward spiral. For any IGL, no matter their caliber, finding a way out of such slumps is not as easy as falling off a log. And even for karrigan, who makes his case as the best of the best, this has been the one challenge that has often eluded him. While the onus lies with the whole team, he has been shouldering the lion’s share of the blame.

During FaZe’s previous decline, karrigan was benched as skepticism surrounding his leadership surfaced. For someone as fervently passionate and emotionally driven as karrigan, overcoming such setbacks is no trivial feat. Now, with a combination of young and old blood, with broky, frozen, ropz, and rain at disposal, who have unwavering faith in their captain, it’s on karrigan to put FaZe back to their rightful place. The stakes are highest for him. While he has conquered numerous challenges in his career, this may be his most defining trial. This time, it’s not about making a new lineup work, it’s about restoring one that has already proven successful.

ropz regaining pace

ropz has hit a cold streak after a blazing start to CS2. When the game debuted, ropz was heralded as one of its top players, firing on all cylinders while others were still acclimating. A 1.17 rating at IEM Sydney, 1.29 at Thunderpick World Championship 2023, a 1.18 at CS Asia Championship 2023, pulling his weight as FaZe bagged the top rank.

Despite FaZe’s success in the Copenhagen Major, ropz’s performance was underwhelming, averaging just a 1.01 rating throughout the tournament. Since then, ropz lost steam, made evident by his 1.05 rating in ESL Pro League Season 19, 1.01 at IEM Dallas 2024, 0.93 at EWC 2024, and 0.96 at BLAST Premier Fall Groups 2024. In the recent few months, post those lackluster performances, ropz seems to be finding his stride again. The Shanghai Major could serve as his moment of redemption for ropz, who will look to clean the slate at his second opportunity at a CS2 Major.

rain’s resurgence

rain’s narrative has been a recurring one: criticism of his output juxtaposed against his invaluable contributions to FaZe. Many overlook the Norwegian’s self-sacrificing playstyle, providing space and opportunities for his teammates to frag out. What people tend to overlook even more is that rain is a big event player, and the MVP of the only Major trophy FaZe has ever lifted.

And so, there is a lot on the line for Mr Dependable. Like his teammates, the dip in rain’s performance is no exception, as his last three month average turns out to be a scant 1.03. As they say though, cometh the hour, cometh the man. Rain arrived in full force to the RMRs, finding significant impact in his 1.28 rated statsheet. To contend for the Major, FaZe will need the same rain, as he continues to be the difference maker for the team.

broky’s lost ground

broky’s dip in form has compounded FaZe’s woes. It seems each member of the roster has taken their turn struggling, and now it’s Broky’s. In the last two events, the BLAST Premier World Final 2024, and the Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024 RMR, broky has registered a meager 0.92 and 0.96 rating respectively.

As FaZe’s point guard, his struggles are particularly damaging, as the team has faltered despite ropz regaining his momentum. Coming to Majors. History speaks highly of broky, who has been a reliable figure since joining FaZe, consistently staying at the 1.17 and 1.18 mark on the big stage. With a lot of prominent AWPers in the scene and the market potentially opening up post Major, not performing in the Major could mean life or death for the young star, who has built his identity around this team.

frozen’s silver lining

frozen has been one of the most consistent for FaZe, consistently pulling them out of trouble with star figures and yet to have a truly bad event since joining the team. He has provided an all round show, despite some adjustments, finding impact on both sides of the game. It almost makes you feel sorry for him, how lackluster the side has looked despite the brilliance frozen has brought to the table. While frozen continues to post impressive numbers, those performances haven’t translated into titles for FaZe in recent times. A Major trophy would be a fitting reward for his toil, and perhaps, the most deserved one of all.

The Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024 carries tremendous importance for FaZe, with each player bringing their own storyline and struggles to the table as they compete for the biggest honour there is in the game. Starting in the Elimination stage has provided FaZe with valuable time for bootcamp. It will be crucial to watch whether they can find solutions to the issues that have plagued them, both in-game and out of the game, in time to make their comeback when it matters the most.