Today, on May 19, legendary CS2 player Olexander “s1mple” Kostylev returned to the scene with a new team and shared his impressions of returning to competition. In a comment for ESL, s1mple said:

I'm feeling great. Looking forward to playing the first game. I have been practicing nades every day and playing DM with bots. I was learning new positions on seven different maps.

Olexander “s1mple” Kostylev

His words emphasize the seriousness of his preparations for the return after the break.

Nostalgia for the competition: Playing in front of people

s1mple admitted that he missed the atmosphere of the competition the most, especially playing in front of a live audience.

I really missed it, especially playing in front of people. I hope we can qualify for the playoffs.

Olexander “s1mple” Kostylev

These words reflect his motivation and desire to feel the support of the fans again.

Working with karrigan: Accuracy and speed of decisions

Speaking about the cooperation with captain karrigan, s1mple praised his role.

I think he fulfills all the roles and helps every player so that we play the rounds perfectly and no one makes mistakes. Most of the time, I forget some rounds. He always tells everyone what to do. Sometimes when he wants to do something, he explains it quickly.

Olexander “s1mple” Kostylev

This is a testament to karrigan's tactical skill and his ability to keep the team on their toes.

The future of FaZe: Ambitions and challenges

s1mple is now playing for FaZe, and his return was a key moment for the team. After the lineup changes, s1mple is confident in their chances.

I hope we can qualify for the playoffs and show a good result.

Olexander “s1mple” Kostylev

His words motivate the fans and emphasize the importance of his role in the team.

Intel Extreme Masters Dallas 2025 takes place from May 19th to May 25th in the United States, featuring a prize pool of $1,000,000. You can follow the news, schedule, and results of the tournament via the link.