FaZe Clan add s1mple to Counter-Strike 2 roster

FaZe Clan have announced the signing of Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev on loan from Natus Vincere ahead of BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025. 

The Ukrainian AWPer will replace Helvijs “broky” Saukants, who moves to the bench following a long streak of disappointing results for the international Counter-Strike 2 team.

By joining FaZe, s1mple will return to action for the first time since Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024 European RMR A, when his loan spell with Team Falcons came to an end.

The Ukrainian’s stay with the Falcons was intended to last until the end of the year but was cut short after a streak of shaky performances, averaging a 1.06 performance rating across 13 maps played.

S1mple has not found a permanent home since he decided to take a break from competition in October 2023, although he still has six months remaining on the three-year deal he signed with NAVI back in 2022.

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He joins FaZe just under two weeks ahead of their next event — Intel Extreme Masters Dallas 2025, where the team will look for a fresh start.

The Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024 finalists have yet to win an event this season, and while they came close at PGL Cluj-Napoca and PGL Bucharest, their runs in bigger events have been disappointing.

FaZe Clan will be hoping s1mple’s experience can help elevate the team in preparation for next month’s BLAST.tv Austin Major, where they will aim to break their curse of two consecutive Major runner-up finishes.

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