FaZe have reached the XSE Pro League Guangzhou 2026 semifinals after beating BetBoom 2-0, but the team’s roster changes remain just as important as its run through the bracket. Coach Niclas “enkay J” Krumhorn said replacing longtime AWPer Helvijs “broky” Saukants was a difficult decision, though one the team could no longer avoid.
“It was very clear that broky would need to be replaced after our last event in Barcelona, which was Stake Ranked 2,” Krumhorn said in an interview with HLTV.org. He added that the decision was also clear to FaZe’s upper management, even as the player’s personal ties and legacy made the move painful.
FaZe’s quick rebuild is working
FaZe opened the Guangzhou event with best-of-one losses to TYLOO and MIBR. The team has since won four straight series, including three without giving up a map.
Krumhorn pointed to strong starts as the biggest difference. FaZe won three of four pistol rounds against BetBoom and came prepared for both Cache and Ancient. The coach said the team’s earlier defeats had followed a similar pattern, with failed pistol rounds leaving them unable to build the same momentum.
The turnaround came despite an abbreviated preparation period. FaZe had only two days to practice with Jason “JBOEN” Boe Nielsen before traveling to Guangzhou, following a two- or three-week break during which the players did not play Counter-Strike. After the 0-2 start, Krumhorn held a team meeting and adjusted how the roster prepared for its matches.
Cache has also become a major weapon. FaZe spent extra time preparing the map, including a full day of theory work when the team did not have an AWPer available for practice. Krumhorn said the roster was also more familiar with Cache than some of its opponents, who may not have had as much time to prepare for its return to the pool.
JBOEN became the practical choice
FaZe considered several players before settling on JBOEN. Krumhorn said the young AWPer was among the team’s top three priorities, and negotiations with other options began to stall as the event approached.
The coach said JBOEN was the best answer for the short term while still offering a possible long-term fit. He had watched the player’s demos and previous matches, including his time with BIG Academy and stand-in appearances for BIG in Atlanta and India. JBOEN’s debut exceeded Krumhorn’s expectations, even though his mechanical ability was already clear.
FaZe’s current roster also affected the search. Krumhorn acknowledged that top AWPers may view a lineup built around Russ, frozen, Twistzz, Neityu, and jcobbb differently than they would have viewed FaZe’s roster two years ago. Several bigger names were considered, but the interest had to exist on both sides.
“It was a very hard choice, but it was inevitable,” Krumhorn said of broky’s departure.
FaZe face PARIVISION next
FaZe’s semifinal against PARIVISION is scheduled for July 11, 2026, at 13:00. Krumhorn considers FaZe the underdogs, pointing to PARIVISION’s additions of HObbit and slaxejezzz. He expects HObbit’s familiarity with dastan and Jame’s system to make that transition smoother.
FaZe will also have the Guangzhou crowd behind them. Krumhorn said the support has given the players a major energy boost, with the team hoping to draw from that atmosphere again in the semifinal.
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