In a blockbuster mid-season transfer, Oleksandr ‘s1mple’ Kostyliev has joined FaZe Clan on mortgage from Natus Vincere (NAVI) and can compete within the upcoming IEM Dallas and BLAST.television Austin Main 2025. He’ll substitute Helvijs ‘broky’ Saukants, who has been benched from the energetic lineup.
s1mple, broadly considered one of many biggest gamers in CS historical past, has been inactive from NAVI since late 2023 and solely briefly returned earlier this 12 months with Workforce Falcons.
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Regardless of enjoying only one official match for Falcons within the BLAST Spring Showdown, his return to competitors was extremely anticipated. He’s now assured to have a for much longer run of matches on the prime stage.
FaZe confirmed the change on Could 5, shortly after transferring broky to the bench.
FaZe’s choice to bench broky follows months of underwhelming finishes for the group. Regardless of reaching playoff levels at a number of latest tournaments, together with the PGL Main Copenhagen, FaZe didn’t convert alternatives into titles.
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Now, with s1mple stepping in, FaZe is definitely taking a leap of religion with an undoubtedly proficient participant, however one who has been out of tier-1 motion for the higher a part of two years.
Following the announcement, FaZe IGL karrigan mentioned: “Wanting ahead to play with this GOAT on the main. That is an all-in transfer, we’re going for the trophy at [the] main even when Sasha is barely a stand-in, I do know we will win.”
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All eyes shall be on FaZe as they debut this new lineup at IEM Dallas, which begins on Could 19. s1mple is about to stay with the group for the BLAST Austin Main too, the place FaZe will play in Stage 2 beginning June 7.
FaZe Clan roster:
Finn ‘karrigan’ Andersen
Håvard ‘rain’ Nygaard
Jonathan ‘EliGE’ Jablonowski
David ‘frozen’ Čerňanský
Oleksandr ‘s1mple’ Kostyliev
