win.gg
Win.gg News s1mple is back to playing Valorant after his surprise ban

s1mple is back to playing Valorant after his surprise ban

Olivia Richman
Olivia Richman Published 29/03/2021

Even though Counter-Strike: Global Offensive star Sasha “s1mple” Kostyliev believes Valorant is “too simple,” he wasn’t looking to get banned from the game entirely. But that’s exactly what happened

s1mple didn’t share the reason behind the surprise ban, and the CSGO AWPer might not even know why it happened himself. He joked with Valorant pro Adil “ScreaM” Benrlitom that it was due to him being “just too good” and was possibly reported for cheating due to his incredible skills. 

i think just too good ????‍♂️

— Sasha (@s1mpleO) March 27, 2021

On March 27, s1mple logged into Valorant to find that he couldn’t queue up for another match. That was after he reached Immortal, the game’s second-highest rank. s1mple was clearly shocked at the time, tweeting that he’s “not a cheater.” He also didn’t seem to know when the ban would end. 

Valorant esports strategist Riley Yurk saw s1mple’s frustration on social media and reached out. Soon after, s1mple was unbanned from Riot’s tactical shooter. It appeared he may have been wrongly banned for toxicity in voice chat, but it’s still not entirely clear what happened to block s1mple from competing.

CSGO fans are most likely unhappy that s1mple will be able to play Valorant again. A lot of top CSGO pros have already made the switch to the newer FPS. But while s1mple would most likely make “millions of dollars a year” playing Valorant, he recently called the game “too simple” and voiced frustrations with its weapons. So he most likely isn’t making a complete switch any time soon.  

How many hours does s1mple have on CSGO?

The Ukranian CSGO player had over 16,000 hours in the game as of February 2020. He hasn’t slowed down since. He streams about three to four hours every single day, and practices more beyond that.

Olivia Richman Olivia Richman
About Olivia Richman

Olivia has worked in media ever since graduating from college, with her coverage ranging from traditional newspaper reporting to digital coverage of all things gaming, online betting, and nerd culture. She has traveled around the world pursuing that coverage, from the far coasts of the United States to the busy downtown core of Tokyo, Japan. Olivia’s favorite games include Overwatch and Super Smash Smash Bros, and she has been published at Esports Illustrated, Inven Global, EsportsInsider, Upcomer, and elsewhere.

View full profile
Read Also
Study: What is your late-night gaming session costing your boss? News
Study: What is your late-night gaming session costing your boss? Conn Mc Gillion Hopping on a game with friends can keep most players up far past their regular bedtime. So much so, that it can apparently affect your boss and colleagues as well as yourself. Win.gg's latest study shows that nearly half of U.S. gamers feel less productive at work the day after a late-night gaming session, with an average productivity slump of 2 hours. 49% of employed U.S. gamers admit that they ...
How To Play CCTV Rush Hour Game by 155.io Slots
How To Play CCTV Rush Hour Game by 155.io Simon Day If you have your finger on the pulse of gaming, then you will know the excitement about the new Rush Hour betting game from Studio 155. This unusual and innovative game has garnered a keen following as it has expanded across a number of online casinos. It is quite different to your standard gambling options on sites and that has piqued the interest of many players seeking something new and ...
New York sues game developer Valve, alleges gambling promotion News
New York sues game developer Valve, alleges gambling promotion Khizar Mundia The US state of New York has filed a lawsuit against Valve Corporation, claiming as it sues the industry giant that an in-game mechanic that the developer uses and promotes in multiple popular titles is too similar to gambling. The lawsuit specifically targets loot boxes, an in-game mechanic that players unlock using real-life money for a chance to win in-game prizes. The rewards are sought after and traded, often using ...
As MrBeast collaborates with Super Group, talks spark over future News
As MrBeast collaborates with Super Group, talks spark over future Khizar Mundia Famed content creator James “MrBeast” Donaldson is collaborating with Super Group, the parent company behind popular betting platform Betway, sparking speculation about his potentially being further linked to the betting and gambling industry moving forward. MrBeast is one of the largest streamers and influencers in the world, known for his over-the-top challenges and big-money charity initiatives. In 2025, MrBeast was notably seen setting a donation record for the Guinness World ...
Rush Hour CCTV Game: How Does It Compare to Traditional Casino Games? Slots
Rush Hour CCTV Game: How Does It Compare to Traditional Casino Games? Simon Day Rush hour the annoying traffic phenomenon becomes an exciting new playing experience thanks to Rush Hour CCTV from 155.io. This brand new online betting game allows players to predict real-world traffic to win up to 18x their bet. In this guide, we’ll look at how Rush Hour CCTV compares to other traditional casino games such as slots and card and dice games. We’ll also point you towards our three top ...
Pennsylvania posts huge gambling revenue for January 2026 News
Pennsylvania posts huge gambling revenue for January 2026 Khizar Mundia Pennsylvania’s gambling industry has gotten the year 2026 off to a strong start, with the US state reporting better than a 10% year-over-year growth in revenue for January 2026 compared to the same month in 2025. Pennsylvania is one of the leading regulated gambling markets in the United States of America, with the state consistently generating hundreds of millions in betting tax revenues. The state offers several gaming options for ...
Gambling operators must adapt to paid partnership changes on X News
Gambling operators must adapt to paid partnership changes on X Khizar Mundia Paid partnerships on X have had great potential value for gambling operators in their marketing and advertising efforts, but the platform's new changes will require betting operators to adjust their approach to remain in compliance. News has been circulating that social media giant X has made substantial changes to its paid partnerships requirements, notably targeting gambling ads in the process. These ads are a great way for gambling marketers to ...