NAVI delivered a true show of force, dismantling FaZe 2–0 in an upper bracket match at IEM Cologne 2025. This was already the second meeting between the teams at this tournament – but while the first clash was close, this time FaZe suffered a devastating defeat, and NAVI looked like they were back to their very best.
The teams’ road through the tournament
For Natus Vincere, this tournament became a test of endurance and character. They started with an important win over FaZe (2–1) but then suffered a painful defeat to MOUZ (0–2) in the upper bracket, forcing them into the pressure cooker of the lower bracket. There, NAVI regrouped and started a survival streak: beating NiP (2–1) in their first elimination match and then defeating FaZe again — this time far more convincingly, with a 2–0 sweep.
FaZe entered the tournament with ambition and a solid start – losing to NAVI (1–2) in the upper bracket but bouncing back with wins over Aurora (2–0) and Liquid (2–0). However, their second encounter with NAVI turned into a disaster: a 0–2 loss with no chance on Ancient and Inferno, a result that marked the end of their tournament run.
Match Flow: NAVI left no room for hope
Ancient (13–5 for NAVI)
FaZe hoped Ancient would give them an edge, but the script flipped completely. iM dictated an aggressive pace from the opening rounds, and b1t calmly shut down any comeback attempts. NAVI’s dominance was so overwhelming that FaZe looked helpless – 13–5 and a crushing start to the series.
Inferno (13–7 for NAVI)
On Inferno, NAVI simply kept rolling. Aleksib read his opponent like a book, steering the tempo, while w0nderful and makazze neutralized every FaZe attempt to find cracks in the defense. 13–7 – and the series ended without any real drama, as NAVI closed out a commanding 2–0.
Player stats for the match
NAVI: composure and complete control
NAVI came into this match with a crystal-clear plan and looked confident from the very first round. Their structure was flawless: rotations on point, communication tight, and they won every key duel that mattered.
- Mihai “iM” Ivan (39–20, 1.68 rating) was the driving force behind the victory. His aggression on Ancient and precision in key moments broke FaZe’s game apart.
- Valeriy “b1t” Vakhovskiy (34–21, 1.46 rating) brought stability, while makazze and w0nderful supported with key trades and solid anchoring.
- Holding it all together was Aleksib – his calls and reads allowed NAVI to play with both freedom and discipline. This was NAVI looking like the powerhouse of old.
FaZe: collapse at the worst moment
FaZe started the tournament well, but in this match they looked lost. rain (26–32, 0.86 rating) tried to lead by example, but without support his efforts weren’t enough. broky and frozen failed to win the crucial duels, while karrigan (18–32, 0.67 rating) couldn’t find answers to NAVI’s relentless tempo.
FaZe appeared drained and out of ideas — at this level, that’s as good as losing before the map even ends.
Player of the Match – Mihai “iM” Ivan
Mihai “iM” Ivan was the undisputed MVP of the series, completely dictating how it played out. With 39–20 K/D, a 1.68 rating, and 106.4 ADR, he didn’t just top the scoreboard — he dismantled FaZe’s entire game plan.
On Ancient, iM dominated every duel, opening rounds with first kills and forcing FaZe to rethink their tactics on the fly. On Inferno, he was everywhere again: aggressive pushes into key positions cracked FaZe’s defense, and his confident clutches broke them mentally.
This wasn’t just a strong series from one player — it was the performance of a true leader, setting the tone for the whole team and making NAVI’s victory inevitable.
What’s next?
NAVI move into the quarter-finals looking like a team nobody will want to face. They’ve regained their confidence and are proving they can once again be a nightmare for the world’s best.
FaZe, on the other hand, end their run at IEM Cologne 2025. The defeat to NAVI was the final chord of their tournament – and a harsh reminder of the issues they’ll need to fix if they want to compete for trophies again.
