After the summer break, top-tier teams return to action, and one of the most anticipated matchups of the IEM Cologne 2025 opening stage is FaZe vs BIG. FaZe step onto the server following a break and bootcamp, while BIG have stayed active with a packed tournament schedule. The big question is — who will adapt better to the new patch and show stability in this best-of-three clash?
Current Form
FaZe
FaZe come into IEM Cologne 2025 after a month-long break, following the end of the season and their run at the Austin Major, where they finished 5th–8th alongside s1mple. In the past 3 months, the team played 36 maps and won 17 of them. Despite a modest win rate, FaZe showed glimpses of strength in victories over The MongolZ, Legacy, and MOUZ. However, losses to The MongolZ and Aurora reveal some inconsistency. The break may have been beneficial, giving the team time to reset and prepare.
BIG
BIG had an eventful summer, participating in multiple tournaments: they finished 5th–8th at Exort The Proving Grounds, 3rd–4th at CCT Season 3 Europe Series 3, won the DACH Masters Season 1 Finals, and placed 9th–12th at FISSURE Playground 1. Over the past 3 months, the team played 61 maps, winning 30. However, their recent form is mixed — they’ve only won 2 of their last 5 matches (against Bärendienst and MOUZ), while suffering losses to NIP, Complexity, and BetBoom. BIG look active and prepared, but not entirely stable.
Map Pool Breakdown
Based on past bans and map preferences, the likely pick/ban sequence could be:
- FaZe bans Train, which they regularly remove.
- BIG bans Overpass (previously Anubis, which has been removed from the pool).
- FaZe picks Ancient — one of their go-to maps with a 57% win rate.
- BIG picks Inferno — their strongest map statistically, with a 71% win rate.
- FaZe likely bans Mirage, a comfort pick for BIG.
- BIG responds with a Dust2 ban, which FaZe occasionally pick despite a low success rate.
- Decider: Nuke — a well-balanced map with relatively even performance from both teams.
Head-to-Head
The teams have faced each other once in 2025 — at IEM Katowice. FaZe took the win 2-1 with the following map scores:
- Ancient — 13:10 FaZe
- Mirage — 13:9 BIG
- Nuke — 13:7 FaZe
This history suggests FaZe have already found success against this version of BIG, especially on Ancient and Nuke — two maps that could appear again in this series.
Match Prediction
Despite BIG’s recent tournament activity, FaZe enters this matchup as the favorite. The break after the Major gave them time for recovery and focused preparation. Having already defeated BIG earlier this year, FaZe should feel confident heading into the series. A strong showing on Ancient, composure on Nuke, and superior individual skill may be enough to push them over the line.
Predicted score: 2–1 in favor of FaZe.
BIG, however, are likely to claim Inferno, where they hold their highest win rate.
