Counter-Strike's undisputed GOAT s1mple is taking a break from competitive CS for personal reasons. He is looking for options at other teams, as he wants to try out a new role as a Rifler, since the AWP hasn't been as impactful in CS2 as it was in CS:GO.
Oleksandr "s1mple" Kostyliev is Counter-Strike's undisputed GOAT (for those unaware, we are not talking about the 🐐 as in the animal, but the Greatest Of All Time). He was crowned the best player in CS:GO in 2018, 2021 and 2022 by HLTV.org and has earned more than $1.7 Million in prize money. All of this while only being 26 years old.
The Ukrainian, who has been for Natus Vincere (or short: NaVi) since 2016, has now announced on Twitter that he will take a break from professional play. This tweet followed after he didn't travel to Sydney for Counter-Strike 2's first Tier 1 Lan-Tournament, which rivals FaZe Clan won, and multiple complaints about the state of CS2. Let's dive into it.
s1mple Takes A Break From Competition
When CS2's first Tier-1 tournament arrived, s1mple wasn't there. On matchday, NaVi announced that he will miss out on IEM Sydney. On October 26, s1mple posted the following tweet, announcing his absence from professional play for the coming time:
So what's next, time to take break as I wanted but that's only half of story Need to fix documents and take care of other people in my life About switching to other org : never thought about it but would be interesting to see offers, maybe on rifle since awp a bit not impactful...
— Sasha (@s1mpleO) October 26, 2023
s1mple intended to take a break months before, when his former teammate Kirill "boombl4" Mikhailov faced serious allegations, pressuring the team and the org into making a decision. With personal issues coming up, in the form of fixing visa issues and being there for the most important people in his life, he decided that now would be the right time for a break.
This break, just a month after CS2's release, underlines his opinon that the game is yet to be finished and not where it should be. In the past weeks, s1mple has said a lot of negative things towards CS2, which reviewers generally agree with. He stated that pro play still needs about 3 months, until the game is properly working. Valve even contacted him following this tweet, which he spoke about in his stream:
s1mple on valve #cs2 pic.twitter.com/7ZkMqxxfCh
— s1mple clips (@s1mpleband) October 19, 2023
Right now, it is unknown when he will return and if the CS:GO-GOAT can be as successful in CS2 as he was in the previous game.
Role Change: Is s1mple Leaving NaVi?
s1mple is playing for NaVi since 2016, he has become synonymous with the Ukrainian org. He is the leader and the first person you think of when hearing the name NaVi. In the previously mentioned tweet, he said that leaving wasn't on his mind, but he seems interested in receiving offers. If this is due to a lack of belief in his team to win, an interest in a higher pay-check or a change of scenery is unclear.
He stated his intentions of changing his role from an AWPer to a Rifler. With the way CS2 works, the "Big Green" has become less effective. With the ongoing movement discussions and the new, shorter MR12-format, the AWP has seen a decrease in play, dropping from 11% in the last CS:GO Major down to 7% at IEM Sydney. This might be the reason s1mple wants to switch to a rifling role.
In the meantime, NaVi are reportedly looking into signing Ihor "w0nderful" Zhdanov, the main AWPer from Sprout. If w0nderful is there as a replacement for s1mple or as a permanent main AWP is yet to be known. But with the comments from s1mple and the following post on NaVi's Twitter account, it looks like s1mple could remain with the Ukrainians.
— NAVI (@natusvincere) October 26, 2023
With the current Rostermania in CS2, everything seems possible. A return to Liquid isn't impossible, him being a target for Saudi's project Team Falcons is an option. I don't think he will lack options, so it's up to s1mple himself, when and where he puts his hands back on mouse and keyboard and destroy everyone in his pathway.
Can you imagine having real-life recoil in CS2? This guy did it.