Counter-Strike icon Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev will not appear at the Shanghai Major next month after Team Falcons was eliminated from the European RMR. The team failed to make an impact, suffering early exits following losses to FaZe Clan, SAW, and GamerLegion, dashing any hopes of s1mple making his CS2 Major debut.
Fans anticipating s1mple’s presence at a Major event will have to wait longer as Falcons struggled throughout the qualifiers. The team’s performance included a narrow 16-13 overtime win against ECLOT but lacked the consistency needed to advance. Falcons showed some fight in their overtime loss to FaZe, 16-12, but were outclassed by SAW with a decisive 13-5 defeat in their next match. The final blow came at the hands of GamerLegion, who defeated them 2-1 in the elimination match with maps ending 13-6, 7-13, and 13-7.
Despite some flashes of brilliance, s1mple struggled to leave a lasting impression during the qualifiers. The Ukrainian AWPer posted an underwhelming 0.99 HLTV rating across six maps, with his best moments coming during the final map on Mirage against GamerLegion. Although he put up an early strong defense on the CT side, Falcons faltered on their T side due to poor coordination. GamerLegion capitalized on this weakness, gaining momentum with an impressive five-kill eco round at 7-7, eventually closing out the series.
Danish veteran Emil “Magisk” Reif delivered standout performances for Falcons, especially on Nuke, where his 21 kills and clutch plays gave the team a lifeline. However, the overall lack of synergy among the Falcons’ lineup proved too much to overcome. GamerLegion’s Henrich “sl3nd” Hevesi set the tone for the elimination match with a dominant performance on Vertigo, and his team never relinquished control.
The loss marks the likely end of the current Falcons roster, which has struggled since s1mple’s addition. The lineup’s debut at the Thunderpick World Championship was disappointing, going winless, and their EU RMR results further cemented their struggles with a dismal 2-11 map record.
The defeat has sparked speculation about the Falcons’ future, with rumors circulating about potential roster changes. G2’s Nikola “NiKo” Kovač has been linked to the team, with Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov also rumored to be a potential addition. While these changes could bring fresh momentum, the Falcons’ current struggles have left the community skeptical about their ability to compete at the highest level.
For now, the Falcons have not made a single Major appearance, and their recent performances suggest a major overhaul is needed to change their fortunes. The Counter-Strike community continues to debate the team’s missteps and speculate on their next moves.
