Why s1mple vs ZywOo is an era-defining rivalry in Counter-Strike
The hyper-competitive world of Counter-Strike has many individual standouts. Amidst the top-tier players, two have stood out, which are Oleksandr ‘s1mple’ Kostyliev and Mathieu ‘ZywOo’ Herbaut. With their skill ceiling and dominance on another level compared to the rest of the Counter-Strike world, they created an era-defining rivalry against each other.
Statistical consistency: S1mple and ZywOo were always brilliant
Both s1mple and ZywOo became top players because of their consistency when playing. They always found ways to outperform their opponents by getting a huge number of frags every match. At the same time, they consistently delivered and stepped up for their teams, which is why they now stand among the statistical all-time greats.
Based on the popular Counter-Strike website HLTV, both players deserve the title of the best. In the website’s yearly rankings, both players have topped the charts, with S1mple in 2018 and 2021, then ZywOo in 2019 and 2020.
Despite the metagame evolving through the years, these two players have consistently performed at an exceptional level. That is a testament to their consistency and skills in playing Counter-Strike. They have set the gold standard for Counter-Strike players, and are expected to remain among the top players for the foreseeable future.
They always had spectacular matches against each other
A rivalry requires these players to succeed, which is proven by their Major victories. S1mple led Natus Vincere to the PGL Stockholm victory in 2021, which was one of the most legendary runs of any player in CS history.
The same can be said for ZywOo when he led Team Vitality to a win at the Paris Major in 2023. It was a standout performance, which cemented his legacy alongside s1mple as the greats of modern Counter-Strike.
The two all-time greats are fantastic, but it won’t be a rivalry if they do not play against one another. They have played against each other many times, but the biggest series was at the BLAST Premier World Finals in 2022, which Vitality won and ESL Pro League Season 16, when ZywOo and Vitality narrowly won 2-1.
They shaped modern Counter-Strike
Beyond the stats and accolades, s1mple and ZywOo have had a lasting impact on Counter-Strike and esports. They have transitioned well from CS: Global Offensive to CS2, and they were the pinnacle of AWPers in Counter-Strike. The new generation of players once looked up to them as role models and are now competing against them.
This rivalry is competitive, but both players respect each other. It is always a clash between legends, which have elevated the game to great heights. While future star players will emerge, surpassing these two biggest names in Counter-Strike will be tough.
