The GOAT is back on the competitive server!
Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev, hailed by many as the greatest Counter-Strike player of all time, is returning to competition as FaZe Clan has officially signed him on loan from Natus Vincere, just in time for two big events—the IEM Dallas and BLAST Austin Major.
FaZe announced the high-profile signing today on X (formerly Twitter), fueling excitement for what could be a legendary run for the renowned American esports organization at two of the year’s most anticipated CS2 tournaments, both taking place on home soil.
S1mple returns to competitive CS2 as FaZe benches broky
The Ukrainian superstar makes his comeback to the professional scene following a lengthy break. His last appearance was in December 2024 during the European RMR tournament for the Shanghai Major, where he played his second loan stint with Team Falcons last year. They failed to qualify for the Major following a dismal 12th-14th place finish.
s1mple takes over the AWPer role from FaZe veteran Helvijs “broky” Saukants, who was recently benched after nearly six years as a core member.
The roster change follows a string of underwhelming performances from FaZe, who failed to reach the playoffs at IEM Katowice, BLAST Open Lisbon, and IEM Melbourne earlier this year. Their struggles continued at the recently concluded BLAST Rivals Spring 2025, where they placed a disappointing 5th-6th out of eight teams.
FaZe Clan’s roster for IEM Dallas and Austin Major
- Finn “karrigan” Andersen (IGL)
- Håvard “rain” Nygaard
- David “frozen” Čerňanský
- Jonathan “EliGE” Jablonowski
- Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev (loan)
FaZe Clan’s revamped, star-studded roster is set to debut at IEM Dallas, running from May 19 to 25. With the addition of s1mple, expectations are soaring, with fans and analysts alike already placing FaZe among the top contenders alongside Team Falcons and the red-hot Team Vitality, the most in-form team of 2025 so far.
The real spotlight, however, will be on the Austin Major, scheduled from June 2 to 22. With s1mple in the linup, FaZe’s in-game leader karrigan said on X that the team is fully committed to chasing the title at the first CS2 Major in North America.
“It’s a unique opportunity, and I’m excited to play with this GOAT at the Major,” karrigan wrote. “This is an all-in move. Even if Sasha (s1mple) is only a stand-in, I know we can win.”
The Austin Major could be a defining moment for this iteration of FaZe. Not only will it test the team’s chemistry, but it may also influence s1mple’s future. His current contract with Na’Vi is set to expire in just over six months, following the three-year extension he signed in late 2022, leaving the door open for a potential permanent move if this loan spell proves successful.
Published: May 5, 2025 08:57 am