FaZe Stand-in, ESIC Bans, Maden Free Agency and StarLadder LANs

FaZe Clan announced a replacement for karrigan

French rifler Neityu joined FaZe as a temporary stand-in for the team’s next three events, with his debut set for BLAST Rivals. The roster gap was filled quickly, but the long-term status of the move and the leadership picture remain unclear.

ESIC banned four Russian players for match-fixing

zLy received a lifetime ban, while propleh, Ruler, and Damiel were suspended for five years; ESIC also said the cases involved prohibited cheating software.

Maden left Fnatic and became a free agent

After a month on the inactive list, Maden officially entered free agency and said he is open to new offers. The announcement formalized his status outside the active lineup and put him back on the market ahead of future roster moves.

StarLadder announced five more Stake Ranked LAN events for 2026

The organizer laid out a schedule from May through November, with each event carrying a $100,000 prize pool, Schengen-based LAN finals, and VRS-driven invitations. It is a meaningful boost for the offline calendar and for teams trying to climb through tier-two competition.