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Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev, one of the most prominent figures in the Counter-Strike scene, recently confirmed rumours about his intention to take a break from competitive play.
His announcement came in the midst of reports that Natus Vincere (NaVi) is close to signing Ihor “w0nderful” Zhdanov from Sprout.
The 26-year-old AWPer shared his reasons for the upcoming break, citing the need to address personal matters and document-related issues.
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
He also expressed curiosity about exploring other offers upon his return and mentioned the possibility of switching roles, considering that the AWP may have reduced impact in the new game.
While s1mple emphasized that no final decisions have been made, he expressed hope that fans would continue to support NAVI in upcoming tournaments.
During his break, s1mple revealed that he would be working on a CS2-related project, though he didn’t provide specific details.
S1mple’s break marks the conclusion of a remarkable seven-year tenure with Natus Vincere, during which he achieved significant success, including 17 notable trophies and the Intel Extreme Masters Grand Slam.
He also earned numerous individual accolades and topped HLTV’s top 20 list three times.
His desire for a break was initially mentioned in an HLTV interview in the middle of the previous year, amidst Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the benching of Kirill “Boombl4” Mikhailov.
Despite these challenges, s1mple remained an integral part of NAVI’s roster, earning recognition as the top player of 2022.
As 2023 began, s1mple’s personal form experienced a dip, though he remained among the top-rated LAN players.
NAVI, in an effort to regain championship-winning form, revamped their roster during the recent off-season, introducing a new in-game leader in Aleksi “Aleksib” Virolainen and adopting English as their primary communication language.
S1mple has been vocal about his criticisms of the transition to CS2, describing the game as “unpleasant” and advising aspiring pro players to wait for updates.
His absence from the first CS2 LAN event, IEM Sydney, raised questions, but it was later revealed to be due to issues with his EU residency papers.
The ongoing war in Ukraine has had a significant impact on NAVI players, forcing them to constantly travel to attend tournaments and taking a toll on their mental well-being.
S1mple’s decision to take a break was influenced by the need to address these personal matters and the continuous tournament schedule.
The future of NAVI’s roster remains uncertain, with discussions about potential changes within the team and organization.
In summary, s1mple’s decision to take a break from competitive play is influenced by personal matters and the challenges posed by the ongoing situation in Ukraine.
His departure from NAVI marks the end of a successful era in his CS:GO career, with the potential for new opportunities and role changes upon his return.
