Minh 'Gooseman' Lee, one of the creative minds behind Counter-Strike, expressed his surprise at the absence of Oleksandr 's1mple' Kostylev from the active squad of Natus Vincere. Delving into the matter, he turned to his followers on social media platform X, questioning the reasons behind the Ukrainian AWPer's absence. Interestingly, Gooseman shared that he only started closely monitoring professional CS2 matches a few months back.
During his inquiry, Gooseman received a plethora of responses, with only a few shedding light on s1mple's situation accurately. Some were deliberate attempts to misinform, prompting certain fans to advise against taking the responses too seriously.
S1mple has remained on the bench of NAVI since October 2023, following a break that inadvertently extended into a year of inactivity. While speculation arose regarding his potential return to the roster, NAVI's victory at the Copenhagen Major solidified the existing lineup, dissuading any alterations. Moreover, the exorbitant buyout clause associated with s1mple made him unattainable for many other teams seeking his prowess. Despite brief stints with Team Falcons on loan, s1mple failed to deliver noteworthy results during those periods.
Recently, Lee made an appearance at the HLTV Awards 2024. Despite being a key figure in developing the acclaimed 'best esports game,' Gooseman showcased a slight disconnect from the current developments in the series. This was notably evident during a recent interview, where his lack of understanding about concepts like 'sub-tick' was apparent. Gooseman admitted to primarily engaging with CS almost two decades ago, with occasional forays into CS:GO with friends. For a detailed insight into the interview with Minh Le, refer to our comprehensive recap below.
