From prodigy to legend — a nine-year journey that shaped Counter-Strike history. In July 2025, Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev officially parted ways with Natus Vincere and signed a permanent deal with BC.Game Esports. His departure marked the end of one of the most iconic player-club partnerships in esports. As s1mple begins a new chapter in his career, we look back on his incredible path with NAVI — a story of triumph, pain, dominance, reinvention, and legacy.
Early Steps: A Prodigy on the Edge
Before joining NAVI, s1mple had already gained a reputation as one of the most mechanically gifted players in CS:GO. Between 2013 and 2016, he played for LAN DODGERS, dAT Team, FlipSid3 Tactics, and Team Liquid. Known for his fiery temper and unmatched talent, s1mple drew both criticism and admiration. His Major final appearance with Liquid at ESL One Cologne 2016 proved he could perform at the highest level.
August 2016: The Beginning of an Era
Natus Vincere signed s1mple on August 4, 2016. From that moment, NAVI began building around him. Though the first few months featured mixed results and roster instability, s1mple’s brilliance stood out. His clutches and highlight-reel moments re-established NAVI as a dangerous team on the international stage.
In early 2017, rumors began to swirl about his potential departure — but s1mple shut them down publicly:
I would never leave this organization, I promised myself to stay here forever, he said at the time.
It wasn’t just a contract. For s1mple, NAVI was home.
2017–2020: s1mple and the Four Soldiers
During these years, s1mple often carried NAVI through tournaments. Despite the team’s inconsistent results, his individual performances were legendary. He earned his first MVP at ESL One New York 2016 and became known as the most dominant player in the world.
He collected multiple MVPs, broke records, and was named the HLTV #1 player in 2018. Still, a Major trophy remained out of reach, and NAVI frequently fell short in finals. These were the years of personal brilliance overshadowed by team struggles.
2021: The Golden Year
With the addition of B1t and the stability of the electronic-Boombl4 core, 2021 became the peak of NAVI’s dominance. The team won nearly everything that year.
Key victories included:
- PGL Major Stockholm 2021
- Intel Grand Slam Season 3
- IEM Cologne
- ESL Pro League Season 14
- BLAST Premier: Fall and World Final
s1mple posted a 1.41 LAN rating and won 8 MVPs that year alone. He was named the best player in the world for the second time. For the first time in his career, s1mple had both the stats and the trophies.
2022–2023: War, Pressure, and Inactivity
The war in Ukraine deeply affected s1mple and his team. Though he remained active and continued speaking up for his country, NAVI began to struggle.
Boombl4 left the team, the roster went through changes, and s1mple’s own level started to decline. In 2023, he recorded his lowest HLTV rating in years (1.13). In October of that year, he stepped down from the active roster, citing the need to “fix documents and take care of other people in my life.”
2024–2025: The Comeback Attempts
After a year away, s1mple returned to the server with loan stints in Falcons and later FaZe Clan. While his time in Falcons didn’t deliver results, his appearance for FaZe at IEM Dallas and the Austin Major in 2025 showed flashes of brilliance. He helped FaZe reach the playoffs but was not retained as a permanent member.
On social media, s1mple wrote:
I just want to play. BC.Game gave me the chance, and they’re serious about building a top-tier team. One wise man said, if you want to comeback on tier 1 scene, you need to join tier 3 team.
NAVI Achievements: A Historic Career
- One Major title (PGL Stockholm 2021)
- Seventeen notable trophies, including IEM Cologne, ESL Pro League, BLAST Premier
- Twenty-one MVP medals, the second most in CS history
- Three-time HLTV #1 player (2018, 2021, 2022)
- Featured in every HLTV Top 20 from 2016 to 2023
- Reached Major finals with three different cores
- One of the highest career LAN ratings ever recorded (1.41 in 2021)
The Legacy
s1mple’s impact on NAVI and Counter-Strike goes beyond statistics. He became the face of NAVI — not just their star player, but their emotional core. His style inspired an entire generation of players across the CIS region and beyond.
Under s1mple, NAVI transformed into a global powerhouse. He elevated the organization’s brand, redefined expectations, and turned heartbreak into history.
His influence is visible in players like B1t, w0nderful, and r1nkle — young stars who grew up watching him.
Impact on NAVI as a Brand
s1mple’s influence extended far beyond the server. He became the face of Natus Vincere in a way few players ever do for an organization. His name was synonymous with NAVI — from jersey sales to stream viewership, his presence elevated the brand across every metric.
During his peak years (2018–2021), NAVI’s fan base expanded globally, especially in Europe, Asia, and North America. Social media engagement surged around his highlights, interviews, and clutch moments. He was one of the most-watched streamers in the CS community, often pulling in tens of thousands of viewers under the NAVI banner.
Sponsors wanted to be associated with him. Event organizers highlighted NAVI’s games whenever s1mple was in the lineup. His performance directly affected NAVI’s prestige and visibility on the world stage.
Even during difficult stretches, NAVI remained one of the most beloved teams in CS, largely because of s1mple. His identity became theirs — fierce, passionate, and never satisfied with second place.
New Chapter BC.Game
On July 28, 2025, s1mple officially transferred to BC.Game Esports. He replaced nawwk and joins a team far outside the tier-1 scene — ranked 67th in the VRS standings. Yet, for s1mple, this is a new opportunity.
He leaves NAVI after nearly a decade, having given the organization everything. His time with the black-and-yellow jersey shaped an era of CS:GO and CS2 alike.
Now, as he takes on a new challenge, the book isn’t closed — but a legendary chapter has ended. The era of s1mple in NAVI will always be remembered as one of the greatest runs in Counter-Strike history.
