s1mple Returns With FaZe Clan For IEM Dallas & BLAST.tv Austin Major

Attention, Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) esports fans: IEM Dallas and the BLAST.tv Austin Major has gotten even more exciting, thanks to a huge move by FaZe Clan. Yes, you read the title of this article correctly: The GOAT of Counter-Strike, Oleksandr "s1mple" Kostyliev, will be competing under the FaZe Clan banner for the next two events!

Oleksandr "s1mple" Kostyliev is on loan from NAVI for both IEM Dallas 2025 (May 19–25) and the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 (June 2–22). s1mple replaces AWPer Helvijs "broky" Saukants, who was benched after FaZe’s lackluster first months of the 2025 season.

It is absolutely no secret that s1mple is regarded by many as the greatest CS:GO player of all time, but with the ongoing war, he took a step back, without really getting into CS2 all that much, except for a quick stint with Team Falcons in a failed attempt to qualify for the Shanghai Major.

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

The FaZe Clan roster for both IEM Dallas and the BLAST.tv Austin Major looks like this:

• Finn "⁠karrigan⁠" Andersen (IGL)
• Håvard "⁠rain⁠" Nygaard
• Jonathan "⁠EliGE⁠" Jablonowski
• David "⁠frozen⁠" Čerňanský
• Oleksandr "⁠s1mple⁠" Kostyliev (Loan)

Legendary Danish IGL, Finn "⁠karrigan⁠" Andersen, called the addition of s1mple for the a "Hail Mary" following a "tough but necessary" benching of Helvijs "broky" Saukants. At the time of writing, it is unclear precisely what the plans are for s1mple following the BLAST.tv Austin Major.

Will s1mple rise to the occasion and smash everyone's expectations, or will FaZe Clan fall flat at both events? I can't wait to find out!