FaZe have confirmed the exit of Finn “karrigan” Andersen. The veteran in-game leader leaves after five years with the organization. His departure closes the chapter that gave FaZe their first Major title in Counter-Strike.
The announcement lines up with reports linking karrigan to Falcons. If that move goes through, he will play alongside his former FaZe teammate Nikola “NiKo” Kovač once again.
A Return That Paid Off
Karrigan rejoined FaZe in February 2021 after two years at MOUZ. He stepped into the slot left by Olof “olofmeister” Kajbjer. It was his second run with the team. His first spell ran from 2016 to 2019, and the results never quite matched the hype.
This second stint was different. Karrigan lifted eight notable LAN titles during this period. The biggest of those was the Antwerp Major in 2022. He also claimed the Intel Grand Slam Season 4 in 2023.
Beyond trophies, he guided FaZe to three more Major grand finals: Copenhagen, Shanghai, and Budapest. IEM Chengdu 2024 turned out to be the final event he would win with the team.
The Budapest Run and the Fall After
The Budapest final came at the tail-end of a tough stretch. Robin “ropz” Kool had already left for Vitality on a free transfer. FaZe almost went out in Stage 1 of that Major. They picked up form as the tournament went on. The run ended with a 3-1 loss to Vitality in the grand final.
FaZe chose not to make changes in the off-season. The reasoning seemed simple: capitalize on the Budapest form. It did not work out. The same issues returned once the new season began. A dreadful run of form saw them fail to qualify for the Major for the first time since FaZe entered Counter-Strike in 2016.
Karrigan Opened the Door Himself
Speaking to HLTV at PGL Bucharest, karrigan did not try to dress it up. “With these performances, it’s not good enough,” he said. “So if I’m stepping down, let’s do that. I just want FaZe back at the top, with or without me.”
What the Falcons Move Looks Like
Reports say karrigan is headed to Falcons. The move would reunite him with NiKo for the first time in years. The Bosnian rifler currently plays alongside m0NESY, TeSeS, kyxsan, and kyousuke at the Saudi-backed org, with zonic as coach. Adding karrigan gives Falcons a proven IGL.
FaZe Look to the Next Era
Karrigan’s exit lands just days after FaZe named Niclas “enkay J” Krumhorn as their new head coach. That signals the start of a rebuild.
FaZe have not yet said who will fill the IGL role. According to recent reports, the team is expected to play with Ryan “Neityu” Aubry, the benched ENCE player, in the coming weeks. The likely events for his trial are BLAST Rivals Season 1 from April 29 to May 3, and IEM Atlanta from May 11 to 17.
The current FaZe roster is:
- David “frozen” Čerňanský (Slovakia)
- Helvijs “broky” Saukants (Latvia)
- Jakub “jcobbb” Pietruszewski (Poland)
- Russel “Twistzz” Van Dulken (Canada)
- Niclas “enkay J” Krumhorn (Germany, coach)
The next few weeks will say a lot about where FaZe land next.
