Jonathan “EliGE” Jablonowski is officially back with the Team Liquid CS2 roster. After a turbulent year of roster changes and stints with Complexity and FaZe, Liquid have reacquired their longtime star in exchange for Russel “Twistzz” Van Dulken. The move signals a major turning point for the North American organization as it attempts to rebuild around a familiar face.
Contents
A Deep Liquid Legacy
EliGE’s history with Liquid started deep in the past. He first joined in 2015 and remained one of the key players of the roster for over eight years, helping to deliver some of the most iconic moments in the team’s history. From lifting the Intel Grand Slam Season 2 in just 63 days to victories at ESL One Cologne 2019, DreamHack Masters Dallas, and IEM Sydney, EliGE was synonymous with Liquid’s golden era.
When Liquid’s dominance faded in the post-online era, roster changes piled up, and EliGE eventually departed in search of a fresh start. Now, his return carries both emotional weight and competitive promise for the organization and its fans.
A Winding Journey: Complexity and FaZe
Following his exit, EliGE joined Complexity, where he didn’t find that much success. The only highlight moment was when they won a title at ESL Challenger Jönköping, but Complexity consistently fell short on the bigger stages. In early 2025, EliGE moved to FaZe, looking for bigger competition and titles. While his individual numbers remained strong – posting a 1.11 rating – his aggressive playstyle didn’t mesh seamlessly with FaZe’s system. By August, he was benched to make way for young talent “jcobbb”, leaving EliGE seeking the right fit once again.
What This Means for Liquid
EliGE’s is expected to upgrade Liquid with:
- Experience: A player who has competed at the highest levels for nearly a decade.
- Firepower: An aggressive rifler playstyle, capable of creating space and opening rounds.
- Mentality: A symbolic reconnection to Liquid’s most successful era.
At the same time, the team must adapt tactically to accommodate EliGE’s style — the very challenge FaZe struggled with. How well Liquid balances its strong sides with its roster’s structure will define whether this roster can be successful.
The Trade: Twistzz for EliGE
Liquid has confirmed a trade with FaZe and is sending Twistzz in exchange for EliGE. With this move, Liquid’s active roster now looks as follows:
- Keith “NAF” Markovic
- Guy “NertZ” Iluz
- Roland “ultimate” Tomkowiak
- Kamil “siuhy” Szkaradek
- Jonathan “EliGE” Jablonowski
- Coach: Viktor “flashie” Tamás Bea
This move reshapes the team’s identity, adding back a familiar source of firepower and leadership that Liquid hopes will stabilize the roster.
What’s Next for Liquid?
Fans won’t have to wait long to see EliGE in blue again. Liquid’s debut with their good old star will be at the Birch Cup, a $15,000 LAN event in Gdańsk, Poland, running from September 26–28, 2025. While it’s not a tier-one event and no elite teams will be there, it will provide an early glimpse into how the team meshes with its new-old piece.
