FaZe Clan have done it! The first-ever international squad to achieve an Intel Grand Slam and the 4th team in history to receive the $1,000,000 as well as the iconic gold bars. FaZe Clan began their journey in February 2022, completing it after 392 days in March of 2023, by winning the following 4 tournaments to round out the mammoth-task that the Intel Grand Slam is:
- ESL Pro League S15
- IEM Katowice 2022
- IEM Cologne 2022
- ESL Pro League S17
The Intel Grand Slam puts FaZe Clan among the best to ever compete, joining previous winners Astralis, Team Liquid & Natus Vincere in this exclusive club. The players have also cemented their legacy within Counter-Strike in such a pivotal moment of the game ecosystem. With a fantastic run throughout 2022, winning two ESL Pro Tour Championships in IEM Katowice and IEM Cologne, FaZe Clan capped it off with a dominating performance in ESL Pro League Season 17. Led by a string of young players with immense experience and two veteran leaders, the squad was a constant threat throughout the year.
Canadian Player Russel “Twistzz” Van Dulken became the first ever two-time Intel Grand Slam winner, having also won it with Team Liquid, shared his thoughts on its importance before the ESL Pro League Season 17 Grand Final: “I feel we are so close to the Intel Grand Slam and we won't let anything slip…right now, it's my main hunger and motivation. I have a chance to make history in this game and I won’t let it go” and after the achievement “That was the goal before this event, I changed my mindset to put the Intel Grand Slam before anything. It's a very relieving feeling to know that my hard work and my team's hard work paid off”.
An emotional Robin “ropz” Kool shared his thoughts after the win: “It's the craziest win I've ever had in my career, first time I've ever cried after a tournament because this is so beautiful”.
With the Intel Grand Slam IV claimed by FaZe Clan, all current teams with titles in the race have been reset. Information about Intel Grand Slam V, will be available soon.
