s1mple Says New BC.Game Lineup Needs Time to Gel: “In One or Two Months I’ll Be Sharper”

s1mple Says New BC.Game Lineup Needs Time to Gel: “In One or Two Months I’ll Be Sharper”

Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev, the Ukrainian Counter-Strike legend, has acknowledged that his new team’s early results reflect understandable growing pains — but he’s confident that time will improve both his individual play and the squad’s chemistry.

The lineup, featuring the core of SAW alongside veteran back-to-back partners, was assembled by BC.Game Esports in a surprising move ahead of IEM Kraków 2026. Initial expectations were mixed, with a less-than-ideal performance in the IEM Rio online qualifier leaving some questions about how fast the group could gel.

However, at IEM Kraków, the roster hit a higher gear. After a confident victory over ["team","Ninjas in Pyjamas","cs2 team"], BC.Game secured their spot in Stage 2 of the event — a significant milestone for the freshly-formed squad.

Speaking to HLTV.org following the win, s1mple emphasized the importance of constant communication and understanding within the team: “When we are discussing and working every day, we communicate better and I just feel what my teammates will do. And for me, it’s much easier to play.”

He admitted that his personal performance still has room to grow: “I’m pretty sure I could do better. Our team is just two, three weeks [old], and when we’ll be together for one, two months, I’ll be more comfortable and I’m pretty sure my game will be sharper.”

s1mple also expressed gratitude for the opportunity to compete at tier-one events again and positively commented on the environment created by his new teammates — including his former NAVI teammate ["athlete","Denis 'electroNic' Sharipov","CS2 player"].

He noted that the roster’s mix of players from different backgrounds means there’s a learning curve as they figure out each other’s playstyles and tendencies.

The team’s advancement to Stage 2 puts them on a collision path with stronger opposition — where s1mple says he’s ready and excited to test how much the crew has improved since formation.

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Context from Related Results

While this specific piece of news focuses on s1mple’s adaptation to his new team, his career history shows this isn’t the first time he has spoken publicly about team cohesion affecting performance. In past interviews, he has noted how team form and synergy evolve over time and influence results — such as when commenting on previous NAVI struggles where more time together was needed to reach peak performance.

Similarly, s1mple’s own path from NAVI legend to his BC.Game arrival, following his departure from Natus Vincere in mid-2025, sets the backdrop for this transition period.