Oleksandr "S1Mple" Kostyliev is returning to a Major for the first time since 2023 - and this time he wears FAZE. In an interview with HLTV, S1Mple shared the first impressions of the new squad, about the bootcamp in the US, the similarity between Karrigan and Zeus, as well as the desire to play back to thousands of audiences.

The Major is always a special tournament and is eager to wait - even though the recent experience in Shanghai has not been very smooth (Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024: European RMR A).

"I have participated in the nearest tournament in Shanghai, the results were not very good, but I still missed the feeling of playing on the stage of a Major. It was the best thing that could happen - to play against fans at Major."

FaZe has a very favorable debut at IEM Dallas, but S1Mple said the team has improved after the bootcamp.

"I look forward to more. After Dallas, we had a very good bootcamp, I felt that I had regained a much better performance.

Once a rival, now a teammate. S1Mple admits he loves to play with the legends of CS village.

"They are very calm, you know? They are extremely sharp and accurate. It is wonderful to play with them."

He especially mentioned Karrigan and compared to Zeus of the legendary Navi squad in 2018.

"I really like the way he makes a decision in the mid -matches. He can immediately direct the whole team to do. Within three seconds, he can explain to everyone what to do. It reminds me of Zeus in 2018, when he is in the highest form - when he plays boom and always directs the whole Navi team to outplay the opponent at that time."

Although Zywoo is holding the MVP record, S1Mple does not feel jealous - but he believes everything may be different.

The goal in this Major is still ambitious, although the mood of the whole team has changed on the recent journey.

"Of course the goal is to win the championship. First, we need to get into the Stage 3, then the playoffs. I personally just want to play in front of the audience. When I first joined, Karrigan said: 'We will win the Major.' A few weeks later, the goal of turning into playoffs, and now it is probably just stage 3 tomorrow, but we will wait to see.

Currently, the S1Mple play for Faze is still temporary, but he does not exclude the possibility of staying.

"We'll wait and see, wait and see what options I have. Yes, wait and see."