As part of the IEM Dallas 2025 group stage, a high-stakes clash took place between FaZe and HEROIC. Both teams went the full distance, battling across three maps and showcasing strong individual performances and teamwork. Despite fighting until the final rounds, HEROIC emerged victorious, sending s1mple and his squad packing.
Map by map: FaZe fall short in survival battle against HEROIC
The series kicked off on Ancient, where FaZe came back from a rough 0:4 start to tie the first half 6:6. They then took control in the second half and closed out the map 13:9. The standout player was FaZe’s captain Finn karrigan Andersen, who posted 23 kills and a 1.57 rating. On the flip side, s1mple struggled heavily, finishing 9-13 with a rating of just 0.83.
HEROIC responded confidently on Anubis — FaZe’s map pick — controlling the game from start to finish and securing a 13:7 victory. The decider was Mirage, where FaZe found themselves trailing 4:8 at halftime. Despite mounting a comeback to force overtime, HEROIC held their nerve in the closing rounds and took the win 16:14, knocking FaZe out of the tournament.
The best player of the match was xfl0ud, who racked up 58 kills, averaged 93.9 ADR, and earned a 1.32 rating across the series. It’s also worth highlighting s1mple, who played his debut event with FaZe and delivered solid numbers overall: 1.11 rating, 1.19 K/D, 77.1 ADR, and 1.15 impact — a performance that shows promise despite the early exit.
After the match, s1mple offered a brief comment on FaZe’s performance:
“We’re out of IEM Dallas. I don’t know what happened, but I didn’t feel the game at all. I just need more time — sorry for letting you down.”
Looking ahead: the road to Austin
Despite the disappointment, FaZe have a clear next step — preparation for BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025. The team is set to hold a bootcamp focused on improving team chemistry, refining roles, and tightening discipline. For s1mple, this was only his first tournament in the new lineup, and it’s clear the squad is still finding its rhythm.
Given the individual talent across the roster, FaZe have all the tools to bounce back in time for the Major. The coming weeks will be crucial in shaping them into a serious title contender.
