FaZe bench broky, loan JBOEN from BIG as new AWPer

FaZe Clan have officially moved on from Helvijs “broky” Saukants, benching the Latvian AWPer after a rocky second stint with the team. In his place, the organisation has secured a loan deal for 20-year-old Jason “JBOEN” Boe Nielsen from BIG, bringing the Danish prodigy straight into the starting lineup for the remainder of 2026. The move ends months of speculation about broky’s future following FaZe’s failure to qualify for the IEM Cologne Major, a tournament that would have been a key test for the roster.

Broky’s return to FaZe after Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev’s brief loan spell in mid-2025 looked like a stopgap from the start. s1mple had been brought in for IEM Dallas and the Austin Major, helping FaZe reach the top eight at the Major itself. The Ukrainian star showed glimpses of his old peak form, and many expected FaZe to pursue a permanent deal. Instead, the organisation decided against a buyout and brought broky back into the fold. That decision quickly backfired: the Latvian’s form never stabilised, with a 1.01 rating over recent months that placed him among the lowest-performing AWPers at Tier 1. Adding to the pressure, FaZe were also trying to accommodate Jakub “jcobbb” Pietruszewski, a young rifler who needed space to develop. The combination of broky’s inconsistency and the need to integrate jcobbb created a fragile situation.

A temporary peak at StarLadder Budapest, where FaZe made it to the major finals, bought the roster more time. But the eventual failure to qualify for the IEM Cologne Major — a critical event on the calendar — finally broke the camel’s back. With Finn “karrigan” Andersen already having left for Falcons’ superteam, FaZe relied on stand-ins to stay afloat in the VRS standings. Now, with the off-season in full swing, FaZe have pulled the trigger on a change that many analysts predicted months ago.

JBOEN arrives: a Tier-2 star steps up to Tier 1

Jason “JBOEN” Boe Nielsen has been one of the most talked-about prospects in European Counter-Strike over the past twelve months. On BIG Academy, the Dane posted a blistering 1.29 LAN rating over the past year, earning widespread praise from analysts and content creators who tracked his progress. He also featured in two events with BIG’s main roster, reaching back-to-back finals with a solid 1.11 average — a strong showing against tougher competition. The 20-year-old’s consistency in Tier 2 is underlined by a 1.21 rating over the last three months, a metric that placed him among the best AWPers outside the top tier. For a team like FaZe, desperate for a reliable sniper, JBOEN represented the most promising available option.

The Dane joins an international roster that now features Russel “Twistzz” Van Dulken as in-game leader, David “frozen” Čerňanský as the star rifler, jcobbb as a young entry fragger, and JBOEN as the primary AWPer. The team’s coach, Niclas “enkay J” Krumhorn, has a proven track record of elevating young talents, which should help JBOEN adapt to the higher level. FaZe’s current VRS ranking means the teams they will face in upcoming tournaments are not far removed from the Tier 2 level JBOEN has already dominated. If he can establish himself quickly, he could become the long-term anchor on the AWP that FaZe have lacked since the s1mple loan ended.

• FaZe bench broky after a second stint marked by inconsistency, sub-1.05 ratings, and failure to qualify for the IEM Cologne Major.
• JBOEN joins on loan from BIG for the remainder of 2026, replacing the Latvian AWPer in the starting lineup.
• The Dane averaged 1.29 on LAN over the past twelve months with BIG Academy, plus a 1.11 rating in two finals with BIG’s main roster.
• FaZe previously worked with s1mple during the 2025 Austin Major — reaching top eight — but chose not to buy him out, eventually reinserting broky.

FaZe’s bumpy road: from s1mple to a fresh start

The timeline of FaZe’s AWPer carousel is worth retracing. In early 2025, after a disappointing run, the team loaned s1mple from Natus Vincere for IEM Dallas and the Austin Major. The Ukrainian showed flashes of brilliance, and FaZe made a respectable top-eight run at the Major. But instead of securing a permanent transfer, the organisation opted to bring broky back — a move that never truly clicked. broky’s rating dropped to 1.01, and the team struggled to find consistency. The brief high at StarLadder Budapest (another Major final appearance) gave the roster a lifeline, but the failure to reach the IEM Cologne Major destroyed any remaining confidence in the lineup. When karrigan left for Falcons, FaZe lost their long-time leader and had to play with stand-ins, further harming their VRS position. Now, with JBOEN in the fold, FaZe have a young, hungry AWPer who has nothing left to prove in Tier 2.

The loan deal for JBOEN runs through December 2026. If he replicates his Tier 2 form in a FaZe jersey — and if enkay J’s development magic works — the organisation will have a long-term AWPer to build around for the next season. The pressure is on the Dane to deliver immediately, but his recent trajectory suggests he is ready for the leap. For broky, the future is uncertain: benched but still under contract, he may seek a move to another top team or rebuild his career in a lower-pressure environment. For now, FaZe have made their choice: youth over experience, potential over past glories.