A match in FACEIT Pro League drew over 100,000 viewers on Twitch, and it boasted Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev finishing the overtime thriller with 69 frags to his name.
While FPL games usually are a way for pros to relax and play some Counter-Strike: Global Offensive without too much pressure, a match earlier today drew a lot of attention.Â
Both teams had some of the biggest names in the game on them, with s1mple and Gabriel “fallen” Toledo facing off against BIG’s duo of Johannes “tabseN” Wodarz and Ismailcan “XANTARES” Dortkardes. With all these players were streaming on Twitch, more than 100,000 viewers tuned in to see the action across the four streams.Â
The viewers were treated to a spectacle, as the game went through six overtimes to decide a winner. s1mple’s team ended up on top with a 28-25 scoreline, and the Ukrainian superstar finished the game with 69 frags to his name.Â
After the final frag of the game, s1mple reacted with disbelief to his performance and the 77,000 viewers watching his stream at the time.
The FACEIT Pro League, or FPL for short, is a circuit on the FACEIT platform that attracts the most talented CSGO players and matches them against each other. FACEIT maintains its popularity in part thanks to having a bit of money available, with thousands of dollars being paid out to top performers.
Because of its popularity among top players, FPL is also one of the best scouting grounds for up-and-coming Counter-Strike talent. FPL has been crucial as a proving ground for players like Robin “ropz” Kool and Mathieu “ZywOo” Heirbaut, as both took their first steps in the pro scene by competing in FPL.
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— Sasha (@s1mpleO) March 4, 2021
While most pros have been invited to the hub, the road for regular players towards FPL is grueling. First, they have to earn a spot in the Challenger series where they have to compete with hundreds of other aspiring pros for a ticket to FPL. The current season of the Challenger series has 240 candidates, but only two spots in FPL are up for grabs.
Players must be 21 years of age or older or reach the minimum age for gambling in their respective state and located in jurisdictions where online gambling is legal. Please play responsibly. Bet with your head, not over it. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, and wants help, call or visit: (a) the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey at 1-800-Gambler or www.800gambler.org; or (b) Gamblers Anonymous at 855-2-CALL-GA or www.gamblersanonymous.org.
