S1mple named CS:GO Player of the Decade
ESL has named Oleksandr Olehovych Kostyliev, more commonly known as s1mple, the CS:GO Player of the Decade. The title was awarded at the IEM Rio Major 2022.
S1mple has been a professional CS:GO player since 2013. He won the PGL Major 2021 with Natus Vincere. However, the Ukrainian player and his team lost to FURIA Esports in the quarterfinals of IEM Rio 2022.
Besides s1mple, Astralis AWPer Nicolai “dev1ce” was among the candidates for the title. After the 25-year-old received his award, ESL host Eefje “Sjokz” Depoortere asked him what he thought about his ten years of playing CS:GO. The player said the community was his source of joy while playing the game.
“The game changed my life. I just want to play, play, play,” s1mple said. “When I see more fans, and different fans, I’m more excited. That’s why I play. I love you guys. Thank you.”
Brazilian fan spits at NAVI player
Although many fans love s1mple and NAVI, competition can bring a bad side out of some people. According to the player, someone in the crowd at IEM Rio Major had spit on one of his teammates.
“Great experience with fans as well, except for spitting at my teammate after the first map,” s1mple said on Twitter. “GG Brazil, strange emotions, it was difficult, insane experience with soccer crowd, hopefully next time we will face against each other once gain, enjoy CS.”
Brazilian player Wilton “zews” Prado replied to s1mple’s tweet, asking for forgiveness for the rude behavior of the fan.
“Don’t let it taint what the fans and experience here is suppose to be about Sasha,” zews said. “GG today and as always, you will bounce back and prove why you are who you are.”
One fan who sat next to the person who spat at the NAVI players said security had immediately removed the perpetrator from the arena. He added that the ESL had strengthened the security around the players’ entrance after the incident. The Ukrainian player also did not seem to hold any grudge over the incident.
“Don’t worry bro, don’t need to apologize, sometimes fans are over crazy, only good experience from your country and this tournament,” s1mple told zews.
Jame named IEM Rio Major MVP
Dzhami “Jame” Ali was named IEM Rio Major MVP after winning the tournament with his team, Outsiders. Jame beat teammate Pyotr “fame” Bolyshev and Heroic’s Casper “cadiaN” Møller and Martin “stavn” Lund to claim the title.
Per statistics by HLTV, the 24-year-old’s rating during the Legends and Champions Stages averaged 1.30. The Russian player placed first on several HLTV’s leaderboards, including K/D difference (+98), fewer deaths per round (0.46), total AWP kills (168) and more.
Jame started his career as a professional CS:GO player in 2017. He received the MVP award for the BLAST Pro Series Moscow in 2019. In 2021, HLTV named him the 10th-best player in the world.
Jame didn’t have much to say when receiving the award in Rio. He thanked his teammates and fans for their support during the tournament.
