Donk reveals his GOAT: ‘He inspired me to play CS seriously’

Counter-Strike 2’s rising prodigy, Danil “donk” Kryshkovets, recently revealed who he sees as the greatest professional player of all time.

In an interview with BLAST TV, the 18-year-old talent named none other than Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev, a player widely regarded as one of the most dominant forces in Counter-Strike history. Donk explained that s1mple’s legendary career not only set the standard for excellence in CS:GO and CS2 but also directly inspired him to take the leap into professional play.

Donk’s revelation comes at a time when his own career is skyrocketing. At just 18, the Team Spirit star has already secured 10 MVP titles in only his second year at the elite level, cementing himself as one of the brightest prospects in Counter-Strike history. His rapid rise has naturally drawn comparisons to legends of the game, making his perspective on the GOAT debate even more impactful.

When pressed to choose the GOAT, donk leaned on the influence that shaped his early passion for CS. He recalled watching s1mple dominate with NAVI in 2018, a year highlighted by the Ukrainian’s unforgettable carry performances and NAVI’s triumph at ESL One Cologne. For a then 12-year-old donk, those moments became the spark that pushed him to pursue Counter-Strike seriously.

That doesn’t mean he dismissed ZywOo’s brilliance. Donk acknowledged the French superstar’s remarkable consistency, describing him as “the most stable player in CS.” But for him, s1mple’s unmatched peak and ability to change games single-handedly made all the difference. As he put it, the Ukrainian legend was always “the huge difference maker,” and that influence ultimately sealed his choice.

Despite his rapid rise and recent titles at IEM Cologne and BLAST Bounty Season 2, donk remains humble about his place in Counter-Strike history. When asked directly if he already views himself as the greatest of all time, the star offered a level-headed response that showed both maturity and self-awareness.

“Nope, it’s only my second year at tier one. I think I need to prove myself in terms of stability,” he admitted. That humility mirrors the very trait he admires most in ZywOo, consistency, while acknowledging that true greatness is measured over years, not just short bursts of dominance.

With 10 MVP medals under his belt before even turning 19, donk is already being compared to the legends he grew up watching. His unique blend of mechanical brilliance, team achievements, and thoughtful perspective suggests the Counter-Strike scene may be witnessing the emergence of its next all-time great.

What makes the story even more compelling is how openly he respects s1mple’s legacy, crediting the NAVI icon as the reason he pursued a professional career in CS in the first place. But can donk one day reach or even surpass s1mple’s peak?

For now, he isn’t rushing the answer. Donk continues to build his career one event at a time, staying focused on consistency, growth, and writing a legacy that could eventually place him in the GOAT conversation he’s currently so hesitant to claim.