s1mple’s Impressive IEM Dallas 2025 Debut Sparks Hopes for Permanent FaZe Clan Stay

The impressive performance of FaZe Clan’s stand-in, Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev, during his CS2 IEM Dallas 2025 debut yesterday stole the spotlight, leaving fans hopeful for his permanent spot on the team.

In his first match after a six-month competitive hiatus, s1mple posted a 38/31 K/D ratio with a 6.6 rating and 81 ADR against Team Liquid. The legendary Russian player showcased flawless mechanics, securing 12 AWP kills and creating critical advantages in multiple rounds.

Despite FaZe ultimately falling to Liquid, s1mple’s display earned widespread praise, with speculation brewing among pros about his future with the squad. FaZe’s fagger, Jonathan “EliGE” Jablonowski, then addressed the buzz, expressing excitement about s1mple’s potential long-term role:

“Right now, we’re just taking him as a stand-in, but I had thought in my head that we actually had a lot of good practice with him.

I was thinking in my head, “Jeez, if we win, his bio is going to be so crazy!” So, if things go well, who knows? I don’t know. We’re just taking this tournament before the next one, and see what happens.”

After the Liquid loss, FaZe bounced back by defeating BC.Game Esports and will face Heroic in the Group B lower bracket semifinals tonight.