Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev is undoubtedly one of the most talented players in Counter-Strike history. Perhaps the strongest, perhaps the greatest, maybe the most popular or the most charismatic. Regardless, for many, he is the greatest to ever touch CS:GO. But to become a legend, raw talent isn’t enough. You often need to elevate a historic name. That’s exactly what s1mple did with Natus Vincere. Wearing the black and yellow jersey, he engraved his name into the game’s history not just through his performances, but through his lasting impact on the team. This is the story of an intense journey filled with triumphs, struggles, and the end of a historic chapter.
2016: The Rise of a Future Star
After making waves with HellRaisers and FlipSid3, s1mple surprised everyone by moving to North America and joining Team Liquid in 2016. In just a few months, the Ukrainian prodigy made a name for himself. That year, he reached the semifinals of MLG Columbus after a painful loss to Luminosity, and then the grand final of ESL One Cologne, again falling to the Brazilians of SK Gaming. Still, his iconic AWP play against fnatic in the semifinals became his first legendary moment — and it was far from his last.
In August 2016, s1mple returned home and joined NAVI, the leading organization in his region. His ambition was clear: live up to the legacy of the 1.6 legends. At the time, NAVI was searching for a return to the top, and s1mple’s raw firepower looked like the missing piece. He immediately imposed his aggressive, unpredictable, and deadly style, becoming the team’s main pillar. Just weeks later, they won ESL One New York, with s1mple taking the MVP trophy.
2017 to 2020: The Rise of a One-Man Army
During these years, NAVI struggled to overcome the dominant forces of the time, including Astralis, FaZe, and SK Gaming. Titles were rare, but s1mple kept delivering god-tier performances. The arrival of electroNic in 2018 gave the team a real boost. NAVI went on to win ESL One Cologne and reached the final of the FACEIT Major in London. That same year, s1mple was crowned HLTV’s Best Player in the World. He did it without a Major, but with five MVP medals — a record at the time.
In less than three years, he had collected eight MVP awards. His explosive style, filled with insane flicks and clutch moments, made him essential viewing. He was both NAVI’s main weapon and their consistent savior. Criticism about his temperament or attitude gradually faded as a new truth became clear. s1mple was changing the way CS:GO was played. Still, he remained a king without a crown.
2021: The Peak
After a win at IEM Katowice in 2020, the rest of the year was disrupted by online events due to COVID. NAVI struggled to make an impact. But 2021 would change everything. It became a year that will be remembered forever, marking the peak of the s1mple–NAVI era. After years of frustration and inconsistency, everything finally came together.
The promotion of Valerii “b1t” Vakhovskyi from NAVI Junior was a game changer. Alongside electroNic, Boombl4, Perfecto, and B1ad3, the team finally found the perfect balance of tactical structure, firepower, and composure. NAVI became a fearsome machine, and s1mple, now surrounded by talent, no longer had to carry everything alone.
Trophies piled up: BLAST Premier Global Final, DreamHack Spring, IEM Cologne, ESL Pro League Season 14, BLAST Fall Finals, BLAST World Finals, and the prestigious Intel Grand Slam. Then came the ultimate moment: PGL Major Stockholm 2021. NAVI went flawless, not dropping a single map. s1mple was unstoppable and finally won his first Major. He finished the tournament as MVP with a 1.47 HLTV rating — a record.
His 2021 stats were absurd. A 1.35 HLTV rating, eight MVPs, and endless highlights. He was named best player in the world for the second time. But this time, it wasn’t close. With a Major in his hands, the community agreed: s1mple was no longer just a prodigy. He was now the GOAT of CS:GO.
2022 and 2023: Dominance Continues, but Trouble Brews
In 2022, s1mple made history again by being named HLTV’s best player for a third time — the first ever to do so. It confirmed his place as the GOAT. But the year brought fewer titles. NAVI only won the BLAST Spring Finals and lost two painful finals — at IEM Cologne and the Rio Major, both against FaZe.
The war in Ukraine caused huge disruption within the CIS region and affected NAVI directly. Key roster changes followed, and the magic seemed to fade. A core that could have dominated longer was broken too soon. Still, s1mple remained one of the best in the world. But frustrations mounted. Internal tensions were rumored, and his motivation looked shakier. In 2023, NAVI went international and dropped their Russian players. s1mple began to speak openly about taking a break. CS2 was around the corner, but his passion seemed to dim.
2023 to 2025: CS2 and the End of an Era
On October 26, 2023, it became official: s1mple was benched. The official reason was a mental break, but everyone sensed something deeper. He looked out of sync, uninspired by the CS2 era. Watching NAVI drop from the top and shift identity may have only made things harder.
Now, he has officially left NAVI to join BC.Game, in what might be his final push to reach the top once again, as the scene continues to shift towards a new generation of rising stars.
An Immortal Legacy
s1mple wasn’t just an iconic player at NAVI. He was the face of the team, its driving force, and its competitive soul. For nearly a decade, he carried them through doubts, lifted them to greatness, and redefined what it meant to be a superstar in esports. Over those eight years, he built a special bond with the organization, rooted in loyalty, obsession with excellence, and mutual respect.
With one Major, one Grand Slam, three HLTV number one titles, and dozens of unforgettable moments, s1mple leaves behind a legacy that few will ever match. Even if he never wears the black and yellow again, his story with NAVI is already written — and it will remain engraved in the history of Counter-Strike, forever.
