In a gripping BLAST Bounty matchup yesterday, M80 gave CS2 heavyweights FaZe Clan a serious scare, despite fielding a stand-in. With Ethan “reck” Serrano sidelined due to a broken leg suffered during the offseason, M80 turned to former BIG Clan rifler Nils “k1to” Gruhne, who joined the team for bootcamp and proved a valuable addition.
For now, with k1to and the Elias “s1n” Stein/Fritz “slaxz-” Dietrich duo, M80 boasts a majority German roster, making this transitional period an intriguing chapter for the team.
FaZe Overcome M80’s Resistance to Advance
Facing the Shanghai Major finalists, M80 defied expectations, putting on a strong performance that tested FaZe's resolve. The matchup also marked FaZe's first game in the post-Robin “ropz” Kool era, with Jonathan “EliGE” Jablonowski making his debut. While FaZe eventually prevailed, M80’s resilience, powered by k1to’s outstanding contribution, ensured the series was far from a walkover.
The action kicked off on Ancient, M80’s map pick, but it wasn’t the opener they hoped for. Despite the high stakes, k1to struggled initially, bottom fragging with just 10 kills. Meanwhile, Helvijs “broky” Saukants dominated for FaZe, securing 25 frags and leading his team to a 13-9 victory.
.@broky hits these shots in his sleep #BLASTPremier @FaZeEsports pic.twitter.com/P1QeK5lwUW
— BLAST Premier (@BLASTPremier) January 16, 2025
The tides turned on FaZe’s pick of Inferno, where early role clashes between Finn “karrigan” Andersen’s new-look roster became evident. Missteps involving EliGE and Håvard “rain” Nygaard opened the door for M80 to capitalize. Mason “Lake” Sanderson stepped up with 20 kills, helping M80 exploit FaZe’s vulnerabilities and claim the map 13-7, forcing a deciding map on Dust 2.
Dust 2 saw k1to shine as M80’s standout player, delivering a remarkable 21 kills in an effort to keep his team’s hopes alive. He even posted this amazing ace clutch:
.@K1TOCS WITH THE ACE AND THE CLUTCH! #BLASTPremier @M80gg pic.twitter.com/4ittWIDzE0
— BLAST Premier (@BLASTPremier) January 16, 2025
However, FaZe’s star power emerged in the clutch moments, with EliGE finally hitting his stride, racking up 23 frags and guiding his team to a 13-9 win on the map. The victory secured FaZe’s progression to the last 16, but M80’s performance sent a clear message to their future opponents.
With the first-round matches nearing their conclusion, FaZe and the other advancing teams await the next phase, where they’ll learn their Round of 16 opponents through the BLAST Bounty picking process. Meanwhile, M80 can take heart from their spirited showing, especially given their stand-in situation, and look ahead with optimism.
.@EliGE: "I felt like coming to @FaZeEsports here and playing with @karriganCSGO is something that I really wanted"Welcome to EU EliGE #BLASTPremier @BanKsEsports pic.twitter.com/O1Jy8M7kAZ
— BLAST Premier (@BLASTPremier) January 16, 2025
For FaZe, the series highlighted both the promise and the challenges of their new roster. EliGE’s late-game heroics showed why he was brought in, but the team’s early missteps on Inferno suggest they still have adjustments to make as they adapt to life without ropz.
As BLAST Bounty continues, fans can expect more high-stakes action, and if yesterday’s clash is any indicator, both FaZe and M80 will remain teams to watch in 2025.