Is s1mple Back? Dallas Was Promising - But Not Convincing

Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev made his long-awaited return to competitive CS at IEM Dallas 2025- not in NAVI colors, but as a stand-in for FaZe. It was a move that shocked the scene and sparked major hype. But after a rollercoaster of performances and an early exit, the question isn’t just “Is s1mple back?”- it’s how back is he, really?

A strong start...

s1mple didn’t waste time making an impact. In FaZe’s opening loss to Liquid, he was the team’s top fragger, showing flashes of his old brilliance with multi-kills and highlight AWP plays. Then against BC.Game, he went full beast mode - dropping a 2.23 rating on Anubis and closing out Mirage with a clutch 4K to secure the win.

Heading into the do-or-die match against HEROIC, s1mple was FaZe’s highest-rated player at the event with a 1.35 rating. It looked like vintage s1mple was slowly revving up.

Followed by a quiet ending

Then came HEROIC. In a tight 2-1 series, s1mple went quiet, finishing the match with just a 0.85 rating—negative on all maps. With his firepower missing, FaZe were outgunned. Ironically, it was karrigan, the team’s IGL, who carried the fragging load. Despite the rough ending, s1mple still walked away as FaZe’s best-rated player in the event (1.11), but his inconsistency left questions on the table.

So what’s next for s1mple?

This was only a stand-in gig, but it might hint at bigger plans. The mechanics are still there. The instincts are sharp. But whether he’s ready for full-time grind, and whether he wants it, isn’t clear yet.

Some options:

• Stay with FaZe? Unlikely long-term, but not impossible.
• Return to NAVI? Still on the table, but maybe not his top priority.
• Join or build a new project? This may be the most likely, and most exciting,possibility.

The verdict: not Washed, but not fully back

s1mple proved he still has what it takes to carry. But the HEROIC match showed rust, maybe nerves, or maybe just the limits of standing in without proper prep. Either way, Dallas wasn’t a return to dominance - but it was a reminder of what he’s still capable of.

So the real questions now are:

• Was this just a warm-up for something bigger?
• Can s1mple commit to a full return with the same hunger?
• Is he chasing one last Major, or just playing for the love of the game?

Let’s hear it - is s1mple back, or is he just passing through?