On August 14, 2025, in Swiss Round 3 of Exort The Proving Grounds Season 3, an outcome unfolded that even the most skeptical fans could hardly have anticipated — BC.Game suffered their first defeat with Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev in the lineup, falling to Partizan 0–2. But the real shock wasn’t the series score — it was the individual performance of the Ukrainian star: on Mirage, he finished with a 0.26 rating, the fifth-worst mark of his entire professional career.
Mirage: A Map Turned into an Anti-Record
BC.Game had the first pick and, without hesitation, chose Mirage — a map where s1mple had dominated for years and created some of CS history’s most memorable moments. This time, however, the script was entirely different. From the very first rounds, it was clear Kostyliev couldn’t find his rhythm: his aggressive AWP peaks failed to deliver impact, and duels he usually wins ended in deaths.
A 2:10 score at halftime, a complete collapse on the T side after the switch, and a final 2:13 — it all looked like a severe preparation blunder. s1mple’s personal numbers were a cold shower for fans: 6 kills, 19 deaths, 63.2 ADR, and a 0.26 rating. In his illustrious career, he had performed worse only four times — and none of those maps had been on one of his favorites.
Dust2: Slight Progress, But the Story Remains the Same
The second map — Dust2, Partizan’s pick — was more competitive. s1mple looked more active, finding a few key entry kills, but the overall trajectory of the match didn’t change. The first half ended 5:7, after which the Serbians took full control.
A final score of 9:13 and another statistically underwhelming showing from Kostyliev (13–19 on the map, 19–29 overall in the series, 0.73 rating) cemented the impression that he was far from his usual form that day.
When the Star Fades: Reaction and Context
What happened on Mirage was a rare occurrence for s1mple. Known for his consistency in big matches and his ability to drag his team back from hopeless situations, this time he couldn’t find any way to break the opponent’s defense. Moreover, his lack of impact affected BC.Game’s overall play — a team that often builds its game plan around the sniper looked disorganized.
For Kostyliev himself, this wasn’t just a bad day — it was a blow to the image he had built over years. Poor matches have happened in his career, but when we’re talking about a 0.26 rating on a map he personally picked, it becomes a point for analysis and criticism.
Community Reaction
The defeat and s1mple’s personal collapse instantly became the main talking point in social media and fan chats. Users relentlessly trolled the Ukrainian, bringing up his level of play on the “tier-3” scene and mocking his stats:
Come on, s1mple fans, come up with another excuse for why Sanya plays like this on the tier-3 scene, people wrote in chats, adding that it’s almost impossible to put up a 0.3 rating against tier-3. I’m shocked by him, His level, Throwing — such comments drew dozens of reactions.
Some sarcastically noted that “we’re setting records,” hinting at an anti-record in s1mple’s career, while others simply called him a “clown.” This wave of negativity shows just how unexpected and painful this result was for fans, and how quickly a reputation can become the target of criticism after a single failure.
Partizan: Composure and Discipline
Credit must also go to the opponent. Partizan made the most of the situation: Nikola “Dragon” Boskovic (37–21, 1.44 rating) and Luka “c0llins” Živanović (31–23, 1.37 rating) completely locked down key areas, won most of the clutches, and managed to reduce s1mple’s influence to a minimum.
What’s Next for s1mple and BC.Game
Despite the loss, the path to playoffs is still open — BC.Game will play a decisive Swiss match to determine their future in the tournament. The main question now is whether s1mple can mentally bounce back from such a collapse. His name has always been associated with the highest standards of play, and he will have to be the driving force of the comeback.
History shows that after his most painful defeats, Kostyliev has often returned stronger than ever. If he can turn this loss into motivation, the next match could be not only a statistical redemption but also a statement that s1mple remains one of the most fearsome figures in CS2.
