s1mple Praises Spirit Roster Changes: “They Became Even Stronger” — Vitality Under Pressure

Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev has reacted to Team Spirit’s latest CS2 roster changes, calling them “very strong” and suggesting that Team Vitality will no longer dominate as easily next season. His comments quickly fueled discussion around Spirit’s title chances heading into 2026.

Spirit Roster Changes Rating: 8.5/10

Verdict: Calculated, experience-based moves aimed at restoring championship consistency.

s1mple on Spirit: “Vitality Won’t Have It So Easy Anymore”

During a recent Twitch stream, s1mple shared his view on Spirit’s reshuffle after the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025:

“Very strong changes. Spirit became even stronger. Vitality won’t have it so easy next season.”

The statement instantly spread across the CS2 scene, as Spirit and Vitality were among the most consistent rivals throughout 2025.

What Changed in Team Spirit (Official)

On December 18, 2025, Team Spirit confirmed multiple roster updates:

 Benched

Leonid “chopper” Vishnyakov

Ivan “zweih” Gogin

Returned to the active roster

Myroslav “zont1x” Plakhotia

Boris “magixx” Vorobiev (new in-game leader)

Spirit emphasized that zont1x returned after resolving personal matters, while magixx officially takes over IGL duties, marking one of the most important leadership shifts in the team’s recent history.

Why Spirit Made the Changes

Spirit’s coach Sergey “hally” Shavaev publicly explained the reasoning behind the reshuffle:

The team struggled to close the gap against Vitality and MOUZ

A long stretch of inconsistent results despite internal work

Mental and physical fatigue affecting several players

A belief that magixx has long-term potential as a top-tier IGL

According to hally, the goal was not short-term results, but stability and growth toward championships.

Reactions From the CS2 Scene

chopper: stepping back, not retiring

chopper called the benching a “logical conclusion at this stage”, stating he plans to rest, stream, and explore other esports-related opportunities before deciding on his future as a player.

Jerry questions the new leadership

Andrey “Jerry” Mekhryakov supported removing chopper after the Major but expressed doubts about magixx as IGL, suggesting sh1ro might have been a more natural leader. At the same time, he welcomed zont1x’s return.

Thorin praises Spirit’s roster management

Analyst Duncan “Thorin” Shields highlighted Spirit as one of the few organizations that uses the bench strategically, pointing out that benched players have already proven they can successfully return to the lineup.

Why Vitality Is Directly Mentioned

Spirit themselves previously named Vitality as their main benchmark, and s1mple’s comment reinforces that narrative. Throughout 2025, Vitality consistently blocked Spirit’s path in key playoffs, making this reshuffle a direct response to elite-level competition.

With Spirit rebuilding around experience rather than rookies, the rivalry is expected to intensify in early 2026.

What’s Next for Team Spirit

The team is set to bootcamp before the new season

Spirit’s updated roster is expected to debut in January 2026

First official matches are likely at BLAST Bounty Winter 2026 (online stage)