The CS:GO legend, known as the GOAT, will be absent from the initial tournament in the CS2 era of Counter-Strike esports. As per a statement from his team, NAVI, s1mple won’t be participating in IEM Sydney, and instead, team coach B1ad3 will step in to complete the roster. According to reports from Luís Mira at Dexerto, the reason for his absence is related to unresolved EU residency paperwork.
According to sources, s1mple’s decision not to attend IEM Sydney with NAVI is due to the fact that his EU residency documents are not yet finalized. If he were to travel to Sydney without addressing these bureaucratic issues, there would be a risk of him being unable to re-enter the EU, a situation that is currently unthinkable for a variety of reasons. While NAVI’s statement is quite brief, the provided explanation seems plausible. It’s crucial to understand that if s1mple traveled to the event without resolving these administrative matters, there was a chance he might not be allowed to re-enter the EU, which is a scenario that must be avoided at all costs.
Substituting for s1mple at the Australian event is B1ad3. Although he is not a newcomer to the professional scene, he hasn’t played at this level since his time with FlipSid3 Tactics and is undoubtedly considered a significant downgrade.
In light of some of s1mple’s critical comments about the state of CS2, taking a break may be a wise decision for him. The exceptional AWPer has voiced numerous concerns about the game, even going so far as to say, “don’t play this problematic game [right now],” citing the numerous bugs and the poor quality of servers in the game. The online experience notably differs from the LAN experience, but given the unstable online environment, it’s expected that many bugs and glitches will arise in the early days of IEM Sydney.
Furthermore, s1mple appears to be experiencing a resurgence of frustration, with NAVI underperforming significantly in the latter stages of CS:GO. In this context, a break may not be a bad idea, as it could help alleviate the mounting frustrations within the team and the in-game environment.
Whether s1mple participates in the first CS2 tournament or not, his status as one of the greatest CS players of all time remains unchanged. He will have plenty of opportunities to contend for glory in CS2, including the upcoming first CS2 Major scheduled for March 2024.