Oleksandr ‘s1mple’ Kostyliev has made a surprising return to top-tier CS2 competition by joining FaZe Clan on loan from Natus Vincere (NAVI). This move comes mid-season and will see s1mple compete at IEM Dallas and the BLAST.TV Austin Major 2025, replacing Helvijs ‘broky’ Saukants, who has been benched.
s1mple, often regarded as one of the greatest players in Counter-Strike history, had been inactive from NAVI since late 2023. He briefly returned earlier this year with Team Falcons but only played one official match during the BLAST Spring Showdown. His return to competition was highly awaited, and now he is set for a longer run at the highest level.
FaZe Clan confirmed the roster change on May 5, shortly after Broky was moved to the bench. The decision follows several months of underwhelming results for FaZe, which reached playoff stages at multiple tournaments, including the PGL Major Copenhagen, but failed to secure titles.
With s1mple stepping in, FaZe is taking a chance on a player who has been away from tier-1 action for nearly two years but whose talent is undeniable.
FaZe’s in-game leader, Finn ‘karrigan’ Andersen, expressed optimism about the move, stating: “Looking forward to play with this GOAT at the major. This is an all-in move. We are going for the trophy at the major, and even if Sasha is only a stand-in, I know we can win.”
All eyes will be on FaZe as they debut this new lineup at IEM Dallas starting May 19. s1mple is expected to remain with the team for the BLAST Austin Major, where FaZe will compete in Stage 2 beginning June 7.
Current FaZe Clan roster:
- Finn ‘karrigan’ Andersen
- Håvard ‘rain’ Nygaard
- Jonathan ‘EliGE’ Jablonowski
- David ‘frozen’ Čerňanský
- Oleksandr ‘s1mple’ Kostyliev
The CSGOAT is back – and he's on our side now.
Joining us for IEM Dallas and the Austin Major, please welcome @s1mpleO 🐐 pic.twitter.com/O1o5Mdal4k
— FaZe Esports (@FaZeEsports) May 5, 2025
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