Twistzz

Early Life and Introduction to Gaming

Russel Van Dulken was born on November 14, 1999. His early gaming experiences were shaped by playing video games with his father, starting with the first-person shooter Quake. After his father moved away, Twistzz began spending more time playing games. He and his mother later moved in with her boyfriend, which is when Twistzz started playing Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. This period was difficult as he faced verbal abuse from his mother's boyfriend, which stalled his progress in the game. In 2014, his mother left the relationship, allowing Twistzz to focus on CS:GO again with her support, as she appreciated knowing where he was while he played.

The Early Professional Years (2015-2017)

Twistzz's professional journey began in October 2015 when he joined the team Tectonic. His potential was quickly recognized. By December, he was playing for SapphireKelownaDotCom alongside veteran in-game leader Kyle OCEAN O'Brien. This squad was signed by the organization AGG in February 2016. After AGG released its roster in March, Twistzz briefly played with KKona before receiving a stand-in offer from the prominent organization Team SoloMid. His performance there led to a permanent contract.

In January 2017, TSM released its roster, which was then picked up by Misfits Gaming. A significant career move came in April 2017 when Twistzz joined the North American leading team Team Liquid. His first year with Liquid was marked by strong performances and near misses, including second-place finishes at ESL One New York 2017 and ESG Tour Mykonos. The year ended on a high note as Liquid won the Americas Minor Championship for the ELEAGUE Boston Major, securing their spot at the game's biggest tournament.

Rise to Stardom with Team Liquid (2018-2019)

The years 2018 and 2019 established Twistzz as a world-class player. While Liquid started 2018 with a win at cs_summit 2, they became known for a series of second-place finishes, often falling to the dominant Danish team Astralis at events like the ECS Season 5 Finals and ELEAGUE Season Premier. Twistzz's individual skill shone brightly at the FACEIT London Major in 2018. He helped Liquid go 3-0 in the New Challenger's Stage, posting a performance rating of 1.54 in a tense overtime win against Vega Squadron. In the New Legends Stage, he achieved his highest tournament rating of 1.79 in a win over Winstrike, helping Liquid reach the playoffs. His consistent excellence was recognized with the MVP award at ESL One New York 2018, though Liquid again finished second.

The breakthrough came in 2019. After being named the 12th best player of 2018 by HLTV, Twistzz and Liquid finally overcame Astralis to win iBUYPOWER Masters. The team then entered a historic period of dominance. They won IEM Sydney 2019, where Twistzz earned another MVP award with an average HLTV rating of 1.25, followed by victories at DreamHack Masters Dallas and the ESL Pro League Season 9 Finals. The crowning achievement of this era was winning ESL One Cologne 2019, which secured the Intel Grand Slam and a one-million-dollar prize. Despite this, a Major championship eluded them, as they were eliminated in the quarter-finals of the Starladder Berlin Major by Astralis after a difficult 3-2 group stage.

Major Victory and Historic Double with FaZe Clan (2021-2023)

In January 2021, Twistzz joined the international roster of FaZe Clan, replacing Markus Kjaerbye. The rest of 2021 was challenging, with one standout performance being a 3rd-4th place finish at IEM Cologne 2021. His individual form remained strong, as HLTV named him the 17th best player of 2021. The team's fortunes changed dramatically in 2022 with the addition of Robin ropz Kool. FaZe Clan began the year by winning IEM Katowice 2022 and ESL Pro League Season 15. Then, in May 2022, Twistzz reached the top of Counter-Strike by winning the PGL Major Antwerp 2022. This made him the second North American player, after Jake Stewie2K Yip, to win both a Major and an Intel Grand Slam.

FaZe's year continued. After using the online Roobet Cup to expand their strategic map pool, they entered IEM Cologne as favorites and defeated the world number one team, Natus Vincere, 3-2. This victory made them the first team in CS:GO history to win IEM Katowice, a Major, and IEM Cologne in a single calendar year. Twistzz made more history in March 2023 when FaZe won ESL Pro League Season 17, which also secured the Intel Grand Slam Season 4. This victory made Twistzz the first and only player to win two Intel Grand Slams, confirming his status as one of the game's most successful competitors.

Return to Liquid and a New IGL Challenge (2023-2025)

In December 2023, Twistzz left FaZe Clan to return to Team Liquid. The following year, he took on a new challenge by becoming the in-game leader for Liquid after the benching of cadiaN in the latter half of 2024. This leadership role was short-lived, as in June 2025, Liquid signed Kamil Siuhy Szkaradek to take over the IGL duties and replace Justin jks Savage. The 2025 season was difficult for Liquid, featuring an 0-3 exit from the BLAST.TV Austin Major and a failure to qualify for ESL Pro League Season 22.

On September 13, 2025, during the FISSURE Playground 2 event, Liquid announced Twistzz's departure following the conclusion of the tournament. Hours later, FaZe Clan announced his return to their roster ahead of ESL Pro League Season 22. He quickly helped the team reach the grand finals of the StarLadder Budapest Major, advancing from Stage 1 after a close call against RED Canids in the 1-2 bracket.

The In-Game Leader Era at FaZe (2026)

The start of 2026 saw FaZe Clan struggle as a team. They lost their first tournament match of the year 1-2 to Eyeballers at BLAST Bounty 2026 and were eliminated. The team continued underperforming in February, exiting PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026 and IEM Krakow 2026 in the group stages. Despite these team results, Twistzz performed well individually, often being the second-highest rated player on the team on average.

A major shift occurred on April 20, 2026, when longtime FaZe leader Finn karrigan Andersen departed. Twistzz once again stepped into the in-game leader role. His first event leading the squad was BLAST Rivals 2026, where FaZe secured an underdog 2-1 victory over FURIA to qualify for the playoffs, ultimately finishing 3rd-4th after a loss to Natus Vincere.

Playing Style and Legacy

Throughout his career, Twistzz has been recognized for his high-level individual skill, particularly during Team Liquid's peak years where he earned MVP honors and a top 20 world ranking. His career is unusual for its success across two distinct championship eras with different teams. With Team Liquid, he was part of a North American squad that broke Astralis's dominance to win the Intel Grand Slam. With FaZe Clan, he joined an international lineup that achieved a triple crown of big tournament wins in 2022. His adaptability is further shown by his willingness to take on the in-game leader role later in his career, first with Liquid and then with FaZe, demonstrating a deep understanding of the game beyond pure mechanical skill.