s1mple’s Debut with FaZe Clan Sparks Massive Viewership Surge at IEM Dallas 2025

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The opening day of IEM Dallas 2025 delivered a spectacle no Counter-Strike fan wanted to miss. With the legendary Oleksandr ‘s1mple’ Kostyliev stepping onto the stage in a FaZe Clan jersey for the first time, the event reached a jaw-dropping peak of over 800,000 viewers, according to Esports Charts — one of the biggest day-one viewership numbers in IEM history.

The Ukrainian superstar, widely regarded as one of the greatest Counter-Strike players of all time, returned to competitive play following a loan deal from NAVI to FaZe Clan. This marks his first appearance since November 2024, when he competed with Team Falcons during the Shanghai Major’s Europe RMR.

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Viewership Milestone Driven by s1mple Hype

IEM Dallas 2025 had 803,335 peak viewers on its first day alone, almost eclipsing last year’s entire event peak of 830,000. The FaZe vs. Team Liquid group stage match accounted for the lion’s share of those numbers, drawing 784,335 viewers—more than double the viewership of the second most-watched game of the day, Team Vitality vs. Legacy, which attracted 315,650.

This overwhelming interest is undoubtedly linked to s1mple’s highly anticipated return and debut with FaZe, replacing Helvijs ‘broky’ Saukants on the roster. With the community buzzing, all eyes were glued to the server to see how the GOAT would perform in a new jersey.

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FaZe Clan Stumbles in Debut Match

Despite the hype, FaZe Clan couldn’t convert the buzz into a win, falling to Team Liquid in a tight 2-0 series. Liquid won 13-10 on both Ancient and Inferno, securing their spot in the upper-bracket semifinals, where they’ll face MOUZ.

Adding to the drama, Felipe ‘skullz’ Medeiros subbed in for Håvard ‘rain’ Nygaard, and both he and s1mple started the tournament facing former teams. This narrative twist only heightened the intensity of the match, even though FaZe ultimately came up short.

FaZe will now move to the lower-bracket quarterfinals, where they’ll battle BC.Game Esports for survival in the tournament.

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FaZe Clan Roster for IEM Dallas 2025

• Håvard ‘rain’ Nygaard
• Finn ‘karrigan’ Andersen
• David ‘frozen’ Čerňanský
• Jonathan ‘EliGE’ Jablonowski
• Oleksandr ‘s1mple’ Kostyljev (on loan)
• Felipe ‘skullz’ Medeiros (stand-in)
• Filip ‘NEO’ Kubski (Coach)

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What’s Next for FaZe and s1mple?

s1mple is set to remain with FaZe Clan until the end of the BLAST.tv Austin Major next month, giving fans several more opportunities to witness this historic collaboration. While FaZe may be on the back foot now, the blend of experience and firepower on the squad makes them a threat in any bracket.

Whether this stint leads to something permanent or remains a brief but electric chapter in CS2 history, s1mple’s comeback has already made a massive impact, turning IEM Dallas 2025 into a must-watch event for the entire Counter-Strike community.

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