Karrigan Returns to FaZe Clan, Replaces olofmeister
Just a day after putting on a clinic at BLAST Premier Spring Groups 2020, Swedish CS:GO legend Olof “olofmeister” Kajbjer Gustafsson has announced his departure from FaZe Clan. Replacing him in the starting lineup will be FaZe returnee Finn “karrigan” Andersen who will be taking over as the team’s in-game leader.
FaZe had been plagued with roster inconsistencies throughout 2020, culminating in the loss of star player Nikola “NiKo” Kovač in late October. Once a dominant force in the CS:GO scene and a perennial contender, the team has taken a huge dip in form as they currently sit in 19th place on HLTV’s rankings.
The team surprised many after placing second in Group C of the BLAST Premier Spring Groups, besting Team Liquid in two clean sweeps and earning themselves a spot at the Spring Finals.
Last year’s addition of Markus “Kjaerbye” Kjærbye has failed to pay dividends, as the Dane found himself benched only half a year into his stint with the team. FaZe’s latest addition Russel “Twistzz” Van Dulken had a monster showing at BLAST Spring, finishing the tournament as the team’s best player with a 1.15 rating.
Ultimately, the sheer amount of roster changes coupled with the lack of a veteran in-game leader have sent FaZe in a downward spiral. The latest additions are seemingly exactly what FaZe needs to get back on track, but only time will tell if the team can climb back to where they once were.
Goodbye olof, enter karrigan
Olofmeister had a less than stellar 2020, as the Swedish legend stepped down from the active roster in May and only returned to active play after the departure of NiKo. Throughout the last ten tournaments, olof has shown that his best days are behind him, netting a positive rating in only two outings.
Rumors have surfaced about a possible retirement, a fact that even olofmeister confirmed stating:
“I have retirement in my mind, but I haven’t decided on anything yet. I see a lot of people writing and I don’t want to say anything until it all becomes official, but I haven’t made my mind up yet, so I just want to say that.”
A good showing at BLAST Premier Spring Groups might tip the scales in that regard, as olof showed a glimpse of the good old days after finishing the tournament with a 1.10 rating.
Karrigan on the other hand was a staple in mouseports’ roster ever since re-joining the squad in 2019. He led the German team to victories at ESL Pro League Season 10, CS:GO Asia Championship 2019, and ICE Challenge 2020 among others. The Dane’s imminent departure was made clear after mouz added former Renegades IGL Christopher “dexter” Nong to its roster a couple of days ago.
Although not the best fragger in the scene, he has long been considered as one of the best IGL’s in the history of CS:GO, and should provide the voice of reason FaZe desperately needs.
FaZe had always shined the brightest under karrigan’s guidance, as the Dance led the team to numerous championships, most notably at ELEAGUE 2017. With a number of up-and-coming superstars in its roster, that’s exactly what FaZe wish to replicate in karrigan’s second coming.
FaZe Clan complete roster:
Håvard “rain” Nygaard
Marcelo “coldzera” David
Helvijs “broky” Saukants
Russel “Twistzz”Van Dulken
Finn “karrigan”Andersen
The rejuvenated FaZe lineup will be making its debut at IEM Katowice 2021.
Read next: IEM Katowice 2021 Play-Ins Overview and Expectations
