Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev, at age 25, has now reached the peak of Counter-Strike and esports. In a unique meeting with Dexerto, he talked about their journey, and exactly what drives him to produce more.
Every sport or esport needs a face. Lionel Messi for soccer, Lebron James for baseball, as well as for Counter-Strike, s1mple. Yes it would likely seem absurd mentioning s1mple in identical breathing as iconic recreations legends, but every esport requires a figure effective at bringing a complete arena to its feet.
The miracle of recreations derives from producing villains and heroes for fans to either adore or loath. Because while recreations is a vocation for athletes, it eventually functions as a type of entertainment incomparable to virtually any other medium for a lot of fans.
You either hate or love s1mple, and that’s precisely what he wishes. The Ukrainian professional CS:GO player possesses the uncommon “it” element to stun audiences along with his highlight reel ability. He could be a polarizing figure but commonly seen as one of the biggest players of them all. s1mple has managed to make it his individual objective to show individuals incorrect.
s1mple’s rise to stardom in CS:GO
s1mple’s earliest gaming memory originated from playing Heroes of Newerth after their sibling revealed the MOBA to him. He later on joined up with some type of computer club and discovered CS 1.6, an early on form of the historic FPS name.
After s1mple brought home their very first reward from a 2v2 tournament, their family members “realized that this is more than simply a game title and expanded supportive,” according to him.
It’s be a standard trend for aspiring young esports players to drop away from school, either becoming full-time streamers or joining a company. But s1mple suggested youths to “stay in college, it’ll are available in handy later on in your daily life.” He discovered a balance between learning and chasing their esports fantasy.
In 2014, s1mple joined up with their very first professional CS:GO group, HellRaisers. Regrettably for him, it didn’t get as prepared, but he saw a vocation course in front of him.
“I first discovered that i possibly could be among the strongest players straight back in 2014.”
s1mple experiences turbulent start to job
DreamHacks1mple’s time with Liquid finished on a happy note as he led the group to your ESL One Cologne 2016 significant last
HellRaisers cut s1mple in 2015 in component due to an ESL cable ban for cheating, which prevented him from going to the ESL One Katowice significant. The ban, which dated back once again to their 1.6 times, have been extended after he’d tried to evade it.
s1mple wears their thoughts on their sleeve while in the phase, plus some community users considered his behavior “toxic“.
“I thought within the 2014 HellRaisers roster, and I’m sure I happened to be eliminated due to the ESL ban, perhaps not because I happened to be toxic as ANGE1, certainly one of NAVI’s Valorant players, stated.”
In 2016, s1mple received an extra rent on life with Team fluid in the usa. He struggled with homesickness and did not precisely acclimate with residing overseas. Despite struggling off-stage, he flourished in-game, leading fluid to your semi-finals and finals of Majors.
At ESL Cologne 2016, he pulled off a 1v2 AWP dropping no-scope clutch round against Fnatic, and Valve immortalized the minute with a graffiti painting in-game on Cache. (s1mple has graffiti tattooed on their remaining neck.)
“I think we had an excellent career and achieved a lot in NA, having led the NA group towards the significant finals the very first time.”
s1mple finally discovers a property on NAVI
Stephanie Lindgren/PGLs1mple finally won their first Major title with Navi in 2021.
In 2016, s1mple discovered the homecoming he had been looking for, joining Natus Vincere in Ukraine. He shined while the team’s AWPer, pulling off unforgettable performs every occasion utilizing the sniper rifle at hand. HLTV ranked s1mple whilst the most readily useful CS:GO player in 2018, but their specific accolades nevertheless are not translating into trophies.
Critics questioned if s1mple could win an important, but he never ever quit faith in their capability as a new player.
“I never ever quit and thought this one time i’d be a high player and win Majors. We saw the things I needed seriously to work with and constantly set objectives for myself.”
s1mple silenced doubters by setting up one of is own most readily useful job shows as NAVI won. their first Major name at PGL Stockholm in 2021. The Ukranian side made history by winning each and every map into the competition, and s1mple gained MVP honors for their heroic performance.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling to put it to people who don’t know any single thing about me personally or my team and don’t recognize just how much i needed this or exactly how difficult we worked to do this result.”
HLTV once more known as s1mple the most effective CS:GO player in 2021, in which he has won an archive 21 MVP medals to date.
What’s next for s1mple in CS:GO?
BLAST Premiers1mple celebrating during a CS:GO match.
Even after finally winning an important title, s1mple does not anticipate retiring any time in the future or making Natus Vincere. He recently finalized a three-year agreement expansion which will keep him utilizing the company before the end of 2025.
“I am delighted to have played for the Ukrainian club for over six years, though it is difficult for me personally because we hadn’t remained on any roster for longer than per year before.”
Training the following generation of skill is important for the development and security of an esport. it is much more imperative in CS:GO, with Valorant poaching away young skill.
“I think at 30, I’ll start contemplating maybe residing in the corporation as a coach or in a few other place because i’d like our academy to be more prominent later on. Or maybe I’ll get into business – we don’t know yet.”
Whatever s1mple chooses doing later on, he’s currently proved everyone wrong who doubted him, and certainly will forever be recalled among the best AWPers and CS:GO players of them all.
