A discussion has reignited in the Counter-Strike community about why active pro players almost without hesitation call s1mple the greatest player in CS history. The trigger was a question, where a user tried to understand what exactly set Oleksandr Kostyliev apart from other legends of the scene — from ZywOo to the new generation of stars.
Comments NaToSaphiX
The question was answered by NaToSaphiX, a former pro player and analyst who has experience playing against both s1mple and ZywOo. His comment quickly became central to the discussion because it did not rely on raw statistics, but instead described how it feels to face these players inside the server — something that usually stays beyond numbers and ratings.
According to NaToSaphiX, the difference between the two is felt not only in playstyle, but also in the psychological pressure they apply to their opponents.
read more
Quotes from the discussion
NaToSaphiX:
From my experience playing against both, this is how it always felt to me.
NaToSaphiX on ZywOo:
ZywOo does everything perfectly by the book, almost never makes mistakes, and always takes the logical options — just better than everyone else. He is incredible at predicting enemy movements through walls, smokes, and setups, so you often take damage or die to him without even seeing him.
NaToSaphiX on s1mple:
With s1mple, anything can happen. He is unpredictable and aggressively forces situations.
NaToSaphiX:
Losing to ZywOo feels like that famous olofmeister or GuardiaN flick meme — he can drop 30 kills and you barely even notice how it happened.
NaToSaphiX:
Losing to s1mple feels like an AWP being shoved down your throat. There is no room to breathe. He had a fear factor — when he was alive or simply on the server against you, you were afraid of absolutely anything.
NaToSaphiX:
ZywOo doesn’t have that same kind of fear factor. He is quietly incredible, if that makes sense. He just beats you anyway.
Community context and reaction
This exact “fear factor” became the key point of the discussion. Many users agreed that s1mple stood out not only because of mechanical skill, but because of his aura — a constant sense of threat. Even when he was left alone, opponents played more cautiously, changed routes, and made less confident decisions.
At the same time, ZywOo was often described as the embodiment of “perfect Counter-Strike”: extremely rational, exceptional at reading the game, and almost never making mistakes. However, in the eyes of many, he wins quietly, while s1mple imposes his will and breaks the usual logic of the game.
read more
Rating or legacy
NaToSaphiX’s response clearly illustrates why s1mple still remains the benchmark for pro players. It is not just about highlights, ratings, or trophies, but about psychological pressure and unpredictability, which turned every round against him into a stress test. This combination of aggression, confidence, and the ability to do the “impossible” is what shaped s1mple’s image as the GOAT — a player who was feared, respected, and who is still placed at the very top of Counter-Strike history.
