How s1mple Returned to CS 2
On October 21, Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev played his first official match in CS 2 after more than six months. Representing Team Falcons at the Thunderpick World Championship 2024, his return to the professional stage was challenging but showcased his legendary skills.
The Road to Return
After stepping down to Natus Vincere’s bench in October 2023 and struggling at ESL Pro League Season 18, s1mple took a break from competitive play. His brief return in March 2024 with Team Falcons at BLAST Premier Spring Showdown ended in disappointment. In the fall, Team Falcons signed s1mple on a three-month loan, with the Thunderpick World Championship marking his first major test.
Two Maps, Two Stories
The opening map, Anubis, proved difficult for s1mple and his team. He landed his first frag only in the seventh round, finishing with a personal rating of just 0.64—the lowest in the match. Team Falcons lost the map 10:13.
On the second map, Nuke, s1mple turned the game around. Despite his team winning only three rounds on the T-side, s1mple secured 14 kills. He even single-handedly won a crucial round with a 1v2 clutch and four kills. After the side switch, Team Falcons mounted a comeback, narrowing the score to 9:10, but ultimately fell 9:13. s1mple shone as the map’s MVP with 27 kills and a 2.14 rating, far outperforming his teammates.
Player’s Comments
After the match, s1mple explained that the team had limited preparation time:
“We’ve only practiced for about ten days. There are a lot of mistakes, especially in man-advantage situations, but it’s nothing new. The preparation and improvement process takes time. Thanks for the support!”
Team Falcons now drop to the lower bracket of Group A, where they will fight to stay in the tournament. Their next opponent will be the loser of the Virtus.pro vs. OG match. Another loss will eliminate them from the championship.
