Photo credit: Liquipedia. View original image here.
In a stunning roster development ahead of the Esports World Cup, FaZe Clan has officially announced the return of Helvijs “broky” Smits as their primary AWPer, replacing Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev, who has stepped away from competitive play once again.
After a brief hiatus from the top tier and a short stint with international mixes, broky is reuniting with FaZe — the organization where he built his reputation as one of the most consistent AWPers in the CS:GO and CS2 era. Known for his clutch potential, calm composure, and sharp flicks, broky’s return is seen as a stabilization move following s1mple’s brief but turbulent time with the roster.
“We know broky, he knows us. There’s trust, synergy, and hunger to win. We’re looking forward to rebuilding the FaZe identity.”
Karrigan
S1mple, widely regarded as the greatest CS player of all time, joined FaZe earlier this year in what was hyped as a “superteam” project. However, the chemistry never fully clicked. Despite moments of brilliance, the team fell short at both the BLAST Austin Major and IEM Dallas, sparking rumors of internal conflicts and role overlap.
View original image here.
Broky’s return debut is expected at the IEM Cologne 2025 Play-Ins later this month, followed by the Esports World Cup in Riyadh, where FaZe will look to reassert themselves among the world’s best.