After officially benching Helvijs “broky” Smits following a string of underwhelming performances, FaZe Clan has confirmed the return of s1mple to competitive Counter-Strike. Last seen actively competing in 2023, this move has sent shockwaves through the CS scene.

FaZe’s Struggles Lead to Major Shakeup

FaZe Clan hasn’t impressed in 2025 so far, posting disappointing results across multiple events:

• 7th–8th at IEM Melbourne
• 5th–6th at BLAST Rivals Spring
• 7th–8th at IEM Katowice
• Only one series win at BLAST Open Spring

These performances saw them drop into the B-Tier in our Counter-Strike Tier Rankings and fall to #9 in HLTV’s global rankings — a steep decline for a team that held the #1 spot for the first half of 2024.

In January, FaZe parted ways with Robin “ropz” Kool, who went on to win an ESL Grand Slam with Team Vitality, solidifying himself as one of the best in the world. His replacement, Jonathan “EliGE” Jablonowski, brought experience but not the game-changing firepower FaZe was counting on.

The GOAT Returns: s1mple’s Competitive Comeback

Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive history, with a Major title, numerous MVP medals, and an ESL Grand Slam under his belt. However, since the launch of Counter-Strike 2, he has remained mostly inactive.

While s1mple appeared as a stand-in for Team Falcons at four events in late 2023 and early 2024, those performances didn’t live up to his legendary status. Now, he’s back on a top 10 team, and this marks his true return to elite-tier CS2 competition.

“The CSGOAT is back – and he’s on our side now.”

What to Expect: IEM Dallas & Austin Major

While it’s unclear how long s1mple will stay with FaZe, what is confirmed is that he’ll debut at IEM Dallas in May, followed by an appearance at the Austin Major in June — one of the biggest tournaments of the year. Making a roster change just a month before a Major can be risky, but history has shown that late changes can either lead to unexpected miracles or total collapse.

IEM Dallas will be the first real test for this restructured FaZe lineup, with top-tier competition including S-Tier Team Vitality, A-Tier MOUZ, and fellow contenders Falcons. Given FaZe’s recent struggles, even a playoff appearance would mark significant progress, and a strong showing could build crucial momentum ahead of the Austin Major.

With a mix of proven talent and newly reintroduced firepower, the real question now is how quickly this team can click — and, more importantly, whether they can truly contend for a Major title.

Current FaZe Clan Roster:
Håvard “rain” Nygaard
Finn “karrigan” Andersen (IGL)
David “frozen” Čerňanský
Jonathan “EliGE” Jablonowski
Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyljev (Loan)
Filip “NEO” Kubski (Coach)