Aleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev, probably the best Counter-Strike player of all time, is making his long-awaited comeback to competitive CS2 after a year-long absence. Natus Vincere has officially loaned s1mple to Team Falcons for three months, and if all goes well, the Ukrainian superstar might stay for at least a whole season. This historic move, first reported by HLTV, comes after a difficult year for Team Falcons, who are hopeful that s1mple’s arrival would turn around their fortunes in the extremely competitive arena of CS2.
Team Falcons have faced a series of disappointments throughout the 2024 season. Despite being one of the best-funded squads in professional CS2, with backing from Saudi Arabia, they have failed to deliver results worthy of their massive investment. Their failure to qualify for the Copenhagen Major and a solitary top-four finish at IEM Katowice 2024 have raised serious concerns about the team’s future.
Falcons’ problems aren’t limited to one area of gameplay but seem to span across both strategy and execution. The international roster, while talented on paper, hasn’t been able to find the synergy required to break into the upper echelon of CS2. Replacing Alvaro “SunPayus” Garcia, who held the AWP position, with s1mple represents a high-risk, high-reward gamble that could either catapult them to the top or further highlight their deep-rooted issues.
Time to be back at LAN, that’s was my goal from the very beginning – to play the Shanghai Major! I’m very glad that we will have official games before we fix the mistakes and play the main tournament of this year! Thank you for opportunity both @TeamFalconsGG and @natusvincere… https://t.co/PUEFjEPK2T
— Sasha (@s1mpleO) September 27, 2024
Interestingly, this isn’t the first time s1mple has suited up for Team Falcons. Earlier this year, s1mple joined the team for the BLAST Premier Spring Showdown 2024, but it ended in a disastrous early exit. Filling the role of a rifler at the time, s1mple and his teammates were eliminated by Metizport in their first match. It was an underwhelming debut that left fans and analysts questioning whether s1mple could mesh well with the Falcons’ roster.
Team Falcons’ in-game leader will need to devise strategies that maximize s1mple’s strengths while ensuring the rest of the team doesn’t become overly reliant on him. To win at the top levels of play, you need a well-rounded team with seamless communication and strategy, not just the finest player in the world. The next few months will be critical in evaluating whether the Falcons can perform this delicate balancing act.
Furthermore, the Thunderpick World Championship 2024 will serve as a litmus test for s1mple’s ability to reintegrate into the competitive scene. Team Falcons are set to compete in the event, giving fans a chance to see whether s1mple can lead his new team to victory on a grand stage. If Falcons perform well, it could also pave the way for a permanent move, with s1mple staying on past his initial three-month loan period.
