Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev has ended his three-year trophy drought, guiding BC.Game to their maiden Counter-Strike 2 title at ESL Challenger League Season 50 Cup 2. The squad pulled off a thrilling reverse sweep over Alliance in the grand final to pocket $12,000 and secure a spot in the ECL Europe Finals this November.
The victory was more than just another win. It marked s1mple’s first championship since June 2022, when he lifted the BLAST Premier Spring Finals with NAVI back in CS:GO. Since then, the Ukrainian superstar endured a dry spell, including a year-long break from competitive play before joining BC.Game in July 2025.
WE ARE YOUR ESL CHALLENGER LEAGUE CUP 2 CHAMPIONS!! 🏆#BCGAME pic.twitter.com/Bn9dvDQuTl
— BC Game Esports (@BCGameEsports) September 23, 2025
Revenge Served Cold
BC.Game’s road to the title wasn’t easy. They cruised past Sashi, OG, and ESC twice to reach the decider, only to fall to Alliance in the upper bracket final. In the grand final rematch, Alliance struck first with a 13-8 victory on Ancient, thanks to standout rounds from Simon “twist” Eliasson and Alex “poiii” Sundgren.
But the comeback started on Inferno. Down 1-4 on the CT side, s1mple’s AWP work at the A site sparked life into the team, with Nemanja “nexa” Isaković and Andreas “aNdu” Maasing stepping up as well. A clutch hold from aNdu shifted the momentum, before he and Aleksandar “CacaNito” Kjulukoski carried BC.Game across the finish line to tie the series.
Dust2 sealed the deal. Alliance only managed a handful of rounds as BC.Game’s game plan came together. CacaNito’s relentless entries and sharp aim powered his side to a dominant 13-6 win, closing the series 2-1.
Image via HLTV.org
A Statement Win
For BC.Game, this was more than just a cup victory. The organisation signed s1mple and aNdu in July, hoping the additions could push them into contention. Now, just two months later, they’ve not only earned their first title but also qualified for the ECL Europe Season 50 Finals, where a spot at ESL Pro League Season 23 is on the line.
It also silences some of the criticism aimed at s1mple earlier in the event, after he voiced frustration at the quality of tier-two competition. While he didn’t top the scoreboard in the final, posting a 1.13 rating across the three maps, his impact was undeniable in key rounds that swung the series.
Big Money Moves
Off the server, speculation continues around s1mple’s blockbuster signing. Ukrainian outlet PlayersUA reported that BC.Game paid NAVI a $500,000 buyout and that s1mple now earns around $130,000 per month, making him the highest-paid CS2 player in the world. Neither BC.Game nor NAVI have confirmed the figures, but with gambling companies investing heavily into Counter-Strike, the numbers don’t sound far-fetched.
What’s certain is that BC.Game’s gamble on s1mple is already paying off. With his first CS2 trophy secured and the team building momentum, the stage is set for a fiery run in the November finals.