s1mple or ZywOo? Budapest Major 2025 Players Reveal the Greatest AWPer of All Time

StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 participants have named the greatest AWPer in Counter-Strike history, and the results once again fuel the iconic s1mple vs ZywOo debate.

According to a player poll conducted during Stage 2 of the Major, Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev and Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut finished tied for first place with 10 votes each. Despite competing on very different trajectories in 2025, pros still see both as the GOATs of Counter-Strike sniping.

s1mple & ZywOo Lead the Rankings

s1mple (BC.Game) — revered for his dominant CS:GO era, Major MVP title, and multiple HLTV #1 awards. Even with mixed form in CS2, his career peak remains unmatched.

ZywOo (Vitality) — in contrast, the French superstar continues to dominate CS2, stacking MVP awards throughout 2025 and leading Vitality’s title runs.

Their equal vote count shows that the professional scene still views them as the two defining AWPers of the modern era.

m0NESY and FalleN Also Receive Recognition

Behind the top duo, Budapest players highlighted the next generation and a legendary veteran:

Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov — received five mentions, confirming his status as the rising heir to the AWP throne.

Gabriel “FalleN” Toledo — earned two votes, reflecting ongoing respect for his legacy as an IGL-AWPer and two-time Major champion.

Community Debate Intensifies

The poll aligns with other recent discussions:

Analyst harumi questioned s1mple’s current level, calling him “a good tier-2 AWPer” after his BC.Game return.

Former NAVI captain Zeus expressed doubts about s1mple’s comeback.

PARIVISION IGL Jame defended both s1mple and electroNic, insisting they remain highly motivated.

CS legend dupreeh placed device, m0NESY, s1mple, and ZywOo in his S-tier list of the greatest CS players.

Budapest Major 2025 Context

The $1.25M StarLadder Budapest Major (Nov 24 – Dec 14) features a 32-team format and one of the most competitive fields in CS2 so far. Alongside the playoff race and daily rating leaders, the GOAT AWPer poll has become one of the most-discussed talking points of the event.

Final Ranking — Best AWPers of All Time (Budapest Major Poll)

1. s1mple — 10 votes

2. ZywOo — 10 votes

3. m0NESY — 5 mentions

4. FalleN — 2 mentions