s1mple’s FaZe Debut Ends in IEM Dallas 2025 Defeat

It seems fans of FaZe Clan and Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyljev’s will have to wait a little longer to see them lift a major CS2 trophy this season, despite a promising start at IEM Dallas 2025.

FaZe faced early struggles in the playoffs, stumbling against Team Liquid, but quickly reignited hope by crushing BC.Game Esports 2-0 the following day. However, the momentum built by s1mple and his team didn’t last as they fell short against Heroic in the lower bracket semifinal.

FaZe started strong on Ancient, securing a 13-9 win. Though Heroic slowed the pace early, FaZe capitalized on critical moments to maintain control.

The tide, however, turned in Heroic’s favor during the next two maps. On Anubis, they dominated 13-7 with impressive clutch plays, then forced the decisive Mirage into overtime, sealing a dramatic 16-14 comeback.

While the result marks a somewhat disappointing debut for s1mple with FaZe, his standout mechanical skill still earned praise. The team now shifts focus to addressing their weaknesses ahead of the upcoming Blast Austin Major 2025: Stage 2.