Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev made his debut for FaZe Clan at IEM Dallas 2025, but it ended in disappointment — the team fell to Team Liquid 0–2. The group stage match saw Ancient and Inferno both finish with a 13–10 scoreline in favor of the North American side.
Match Recap
Before the match, s1mple shared his excitement about returning to the big stage:
“I’m happy to take part in a big tournament again, really hoping to reach the playoffs and play in front of the American crowd.”
However, the legendary player’s return didn’t bring the desired result for FaZe. Russel “Twistzz” Van Dulken was the star of the series, dominating his former teammates with:
- 40 kills
- 90.5 ADR
- 1.36 rating — a standout performance on home soil.
Fun fact: this was Twistzz’s first win over FaZe in 5.5 years, dating back to before his stint with the team from 2021 to 2023.
Despite the loss, s1mple delivered a solid performance after his long break. He posted:
- 1.12 rating
- 80.8 ADR
- 65.2% KAST
Making him the best-performing FaZe player on the server — a promising sign of his form heading into the rest of the tournament.
s1mple shuts down the B-site — three clean frags with no chance for the enemy.
s1mple goes huge with the Glock — crisp 4K on the pistol round!
After the match, s1mple commented on Instagram:
“Rough first game, lots of mistakes, we’ll be back tomorrow.”
Conclusion
For Liquid, this win is a key step toward securing a playoff spot at their home event. The team displayed cohesion and high individual form, especially from Twistzz.
As for FaZe, the pressure is on. Their next match could determine whether they stay in the tournament. Despite the loss, s1mple’s return was a bright spot — showcasing both his skill and the energy he brings back to the big stage.
