Crazy series to watch. Both teams look very crisp. For G2 as a German org it def. was smart to not go again for another EU team at that time, they picked up some insane players there. I remember watching The Guard winning Ascension. trent is def. one of the most insane players right now... that dude is brutal. For me as a big Fnatic fan I feel like he is the only Ini beside of RieNs that comes close to Leo.

Sentinels can win against any team in the world with a bit more fine tuning, though. N4RRATE and bang are very good additions. And with SEN it's like with Heretics... you can add +10 strength for Majors anyways. :P I bet they will be a true menace in Bangkok. zekken is also still one of the most fun players to watch.

mini: "This isn't the Heretics that I know."

I think we all can agree here.

But they're humans, sh*t happens. Sometimes you need a little downfall to be able to stand up stronger.

And CHICHOO meeting nAts is always wholesome. :P

Something seems off since they had their insane illness wave. I think Wo0t was ill twice and everyone else once or something like that. They are super young... I think last season was so insanely crazy for a debut season that now everyone thinks they can't fail. Maybe it's also that pressure.

Congrats Sentinels. :)

Still sad for aspas the holy... :(

Vitality are insane. Derke and Less fit them perfectly.

Derke is truly a duelist... someone who does his entrying job and distracts the opponent from the very first second, putting them under heavy pressure even if that means to get blasted by his own Tejo... xD But yeah, Derke is insane this season again. <3 Also crazy that he just got 22... :O

But (!) Heretics showed on Haven that they are still Heretics... aiming crisp and showing insane skill. I wouldn't interpret too much into this loss. They had similar losses in 2024 against Fnatic and KC and ended up playing two 2:3 grand finals in Majors. Every team should be "allowed" to have a down phase... it's e-sports, it happens.

Still def. an impressive performance by Vitality with a very clear sign of a balanced team. So, yeah Derke maybe had not the #1 this series, but then you have trexx and Sayf being in top, while last series it werke Derke and Kicks. Less also always delivers. It's such a round and professional unit already.

Team Liquid is one of the big orgs which could afford primmie. Next season they should stick with nAts, Keiko and paTiTek and sign two new players... imagine primmie and an IGL, that would be insane. primmie, nAts and paTiTek in one team. :P But that's just dreaming of course.

Realitic would be Paper Rex signing him when they make the announced roster changes... maybe one player will go and they will rebuild their positions. primmie can play any agent, he could play whatever he wants for PRX.

aspas the HOLY! <3

Can't wait for this banger after G2 vs. Sentinels. Those 2 match ups are the best pairings that can happen in Americas and EMEA atm.

Good decision, imo. Have no problem with him but his style and Fnatics philosophy + the players didn't fit, imo.

And when it comes to Leo... it actually concerns me. Long-COVID is so damn dangerous. They don't say anything in detail, so this is pure speculations but he could have a myocarditis or something like that, it's a common effect of Long-COVID and a very good friend of me just went to hospital because of it last week and was diagnosed with it. 6 months no sport or heavy stressful situations. Which would fit for Leo. That is def. neither an allergy, nor the after effects of food poisoning. It was mentioned by Boaster in a stream that Leo has been diagnosed with Long-COVID - so it's def. a serious thing. Would be a horror if the best rated VCT player of all time would not return to the game and for Leo as a 20 years young man who goes to the gym, eats healthy etc. it would be a desaster as well for sure since regarding to CoJo he also absolutely loves the game.

crashies is awesome in replacing Leo, but of course I wish the GOAT to return to the boys and that he get's fit and healthy again.

Bloss für FROSTA! xD

tex on KJ and Demon1 on Jett is top. Keep that up!

I said overall by their talent they def. belong to the best and showed it already.

I also said this: That's why it's better to compare after a full season everyone who played that season incl. 2-3 majors and compare all important numbers. Compare for that specific year and then maybe make a long term comparison every 3 years.

When we talk about primmie we can talk about MiniBoo easily - and also about the others, since primmie didn't play majors yet. But people can acknowledge TALENT and mechanical abilities, skill to roam, to anchor... you can see that at players without seeing them on majors, even though they need to prove it of course that they can show it under pressure on big stages.

So I guess we agree there. Many talents need to show it on a long term.

I'm not FNC biased. I'm just into statistics because numbers don't lie.

Most deadly players in 2024 by duels (Leo by far on #1):
https://i.ibb.co/yBN74mGW/Unbenannt.png

Best players 2024 (Leo played almost 900 rounds; by far the best KAST% and best disconnected duel wins as always):
https://www.vlr.gg/stats/?event_group_id=61&event_id=all&region=all&min_rounds=500&min_rating=1550&agent=all&map_id=all&timespan=all

Best players OF ALL TIME in VCT (min. OPP raiting of 2000 and min. 750 rounds against top rated players / Leo is the #1):
https://www.vlr.gg/stats/?event_group_id=all&event_id=all&region=all&min_rounds=750&min_rating=2000&agent=all&map_id=all&timespan=all

• Leo also was rated 1x official major MVP by Riot and 2x unofficially by one of the big websites (VLR, SPIKE.GG etc.)
• Leo is #1 by VLR and THESPIKE.GG rating for 2023, #2 for 2022 and #2 for 2021 (no other player has such a crazy top 3 stats)

So... it's just numbers. No bias there.

And primmies stats also don't lie. He is a menace. I'm 99% sure players like MiniBoo, primmie and xeus will show great performances on big stages.

Hard to say who is "the best". By statistics when you take the last 4 years of VCT it's Fnatic Leo (numbers of disconnected duels, impact, KAST% / survivability and winning duels in low chance situations).

When you take Duelists and these kind of entrying players who are also anchoring etc., I'd say Derke, aspas, primmie, MiniBoo, zekken, something, Jemkin, KangKang, xeus and kaajak are the best at the moment. Like of all the players in VCT. Hard to tell who's the best - by mechanics probably Derke, aspas, primmie and xeus. That's why it's better to compare after a full season everyone who played that season incl. 2-3 majors and compare all important numbers. Compare for that specific year and then maybe make a long term comparison every 3 years.

Fact is also primmie would play even better stats at a better team. So I'd say he is def. one of the top 3 Duelist style players when it comes to pure talent. Interesting though, that he did almost no entry kills in this match. It were much more anchor kills.

No. Stay loyal. That's what counts... supporting your team when they're down.

Yeah, I mean this was probably exactly what they have been steering into for a while now.

PRX simply needs solid comps and a mindset "reboot". When you watch their social media stuff it feels like they're not taking most matches 100% serious. There is no doubt about their talent... don't even need to say that, they're all crazy good.

I hope this shakes them awake, especially their managers and their whole team. The players need a good mental coach or something like that, someone who is able to turn the fire back on 100%, so they want to DESTROY every opponent... just like G2, Heretics, RRQ, DFM, T1, DRX... those teams with endless will to win.

What a match. Honestly, this will go to my alltime top 10 Pacific VCT matches.

Jemkin ACE /w Showstopper 3K <3

Imagine PRX would need to replace f0rsakeN and something.

01) Impossible to replace Leo
02) Impossible ro replace Derke

It will take a long time to build a new monster team. kaajak def. has the ability to be a star duelist, but it just needs time to make a unit out of these guys. And also... when Leo comes back everything will be better again for sure. Alfajer needs to be back on Sentinel as well - he was so much better as a monster rifler on Sentinel.

The inconsistency is so damn weird. :( Yesterday it was pure dominance against M8, a team with a duelist who was very strong against Heretics and they also played insanely well against a very strong NAVI team.

Chronicle is so damn good, kaajak is def. getting better and better, but I honestly think it was a mistake to pull Alfajer from the Sentinel. His "new" playstyle is like a mix of his 2023 Sentinel style and his old Duelist style - not this and not that. Rifling better than everyone, but he can't benefit from his skill in all situations because his playstyle seems not really fitting anymore. When I see how Derke destroyed FUT, I miss him even more. And I miss Leo so much... he always annihilated strong mechanical teams.

Fnatic is in the craziest situation ever. They need to get over Derke and to replace Leo until he comes back... replacing two of the best 5 players in the world is basically not possible in such a time.

Exciting match so far. FUT doing good for the cursed defence on the damn void map. xD

But xeus... dude is a MENACE! Derke was right.

Matchfixing is such a cringe call. You watched too many conspiracy thrillers.

There are many reasons why matchfixing makes absolutely NO SENSE in such a match and why it would not be done so blatantly.

You have no clue what you're talking about, tbh.

VLRs current ratings (2.0) are pretty much as accurate as it gets for now. Boaster did super important kills and assists + a very nice 1v2 clutch + plant.

Also, when you see who wins disconnected duels, who is super efficient with util, i.g. has big impact on single rounds and always comes with a efficient KAST% is getting good VLR ratings. Leo f.e. is so far VCTs "most deadly" player when it comes to the dry statistics of the last 4 years combined and he is leading the amb. disconnected duels, KAST% and impact by util and won duels - and when you look at VLR he is also the best rated player of the last 4 VCT years combined. So that rating def. works.

Boastiiiiiieeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

When this team will become a "unit unit" they will be unstoppable. One of the 2 best duelists in the world (Derke), the best fragging IGL and one of the best Flex players in the world at the same time (Sayf), the best Viper in the world and one of the top 3 Sentinels as well (Less), THE underrated Initiator king (trexx) and one of the biggest prodigies worldwide with an insane Skye and Breach (Kicks).

Can't wait to see more of them, especially when they are at the point of everyone knows everyone and being on the full blown "i got your back" state.

Jemkin and Kushy are absolute beasts, but GENG is so much better in terms of util usage, IGLing etc. - sadly that's where RRQ def. lacks some points. Exciting match though.

Where are these matches fixed? I didn't even see that many Chinese matches yet with probably fixing rounds involved.

It's highly illegal and if that would come around, Riot could shut down. They making BILLIONS with skin bundles, season passes and their tens of millions of customers. Riot would be so damn stupid to not do anything against match fixing or even fake matches by themselves.

Makes absolutely NO sense that Kickoff matches would used for that anyways... look at the betting stats. It's not even worth it.

CLICK <3

I feel kinda sorry for nAts... :/ He deserves a top notch team. They have potential, but still...

LMAO xD
You gotta love Alfa. :)

Honestly, I don't understand what Alfa is doing there today. Massively impressed by Boaster in 2025, though. He stepped up so much. Chron is amazing and professional als usual and kaajak seems to finally find his confidence - although it might still take a while until he reaches his peak at Fnatic.

I want to see Alfa back on Killjoy and Cypher. Double dualist sucks. You miss out on so much info. He can concentrate on his masterclass rifling, doesn't need to play with complicated util (which never seemed his type of stuff). In 2023 he destroyed EVERYONE in direct duels, was worldwide by far the most dangerous player with the Vandal in disconnected duels beside of Leo. And furthermore KJ and Cypher bring loads of important things to what Fnatic is currently missing A LOT on their defence sides on several maps.

So either Alfajer on Sentinel or Chron on Sentinel, Alfa on Raze and kaajak on Gekko, that should also work.

Fnatic can do a lot after Kickoff when Leo comes back. They just need to play more safe with their comps. mini was a master of those comps... I miss that a lot.

How? They played amazing for such a new team. TH are one of the best teams in the world... last year they beat every other top team from every region at least once. I think the Gentle Mates fans can be proud of their dudes.

It's just impressive how M8s played against one of the top 3 teams in the world.

And Click is the dude with the least experience and he's a menace... getting more and more confident. Dude is on the way to become a crazy duelist in VCT.

GGs - fun match to watch. I hope TH will win a major soon but I don't want to jinx so I won't say anything closer. xD

Honestly... this was one of the best VCT matches I've watched in a while. Crazy match, crazy players. I'm sure KC will continue to impress - SUYGETSU is so damn back and marteen showed what he's capable of in several moments (also he seems to have a lot of freedom under Saadhak's IGLing). When this team will keep growing they will be insane.

And Vitality... I mean there is no need to talk about the worlds best players like Derke, Less or Sayf. For them it's the same - when these 5 individuals keep growing as a unit they will be dangerous af for every other team in the world.

No actual caster, prob. that's why. It's mini. His analytics are super good, though.

A team with IGL on Iso HAS to be fire. xD

This game is sooo much fun to watch.

I miss Leo.
I miss Derke.

crashies is really good, but the 2023 synergy seems to be gone at FNC. I hope so much that it comes back from getting cigarettes at some time.

Click comes from the least experience, flor played on stage at much bigger events. Click just got 18, had to finish school etc. - he is def. talented, but just need to get used to the bigger stages. Watch interviews with him... dude is a humble and shy fella, but really, really good at the game.

Playing 3-5 on the first map against flor, who is mentioned as one of the biggest talents in the game is not bad with that background... and he had good impact on the game.

The synergy between hiro and koala is just insane.

WTF?! Why? There are so many great Challenger players that would love to play in VCT. But okay, maybe most have a contract already. Look like a heavy emergency solution.

In his own statement on Twitter (X) he said he will take a break THIS season and it doesn't mean that he is retired.

So NO retirement. :)

https://x.com/cNedf0r/status/1875900429516894345

A 16 year old had ONE bad series after playing great against some of the best NA teams during his T1 debut... bro. xD
Verno had bad games in Challengers, Reduxx had bad games, N4RRATE had bad games, even Alfajer and zekken had bad games in T2. It's not always working when you try stuff out that you never did before.

VCT 2025 will be so damn interesting.

When Leo makes his comeback, I'm happy! When Fnatic plays against Vitality they need him.

aspas together with xenom and cortezia is so much fun to watch. MIBR will be crazy next season!

Maybe this is a hint to put tex back on Sentinel and Demon1 on Jett. nataNk stays on aggressive Initiator, C0M on Sova / 2nd Ini / 2nd Controller (Flex) and kiNgg obviously stays on Viper and IGL. It felt so much like tex being used to the slower Sentinel playstyle now that a switch back to duelist is maybe a bit crazy, while you have with Demon1 one of the best Jett players.

KangKang on Sage. xD Please look how many agents he played in the last 30 days - 12 different agents. LOL
Are they for real trolling or just trying stuff out?

Bro, I was rooting for M8. ;)
Watched a lot of SK and Click last season(s).

And yes I watched it and you could tell both teams were trying out a lot, especially on Abyss. ANd Heretics won't be so stupid to give away their serious comps and strats on a Showmatch when they want to win majors next season, they are like next level professionals.

And it's just a fact that benjy was ill... it's nothing serious, but obviously you won't be at 100% then.

And I said BOTH teams were trying stuff out - not Heretics did and M8 played serious. Both didn't play at full throttle.

Offseason... anything can happen. Teams trying out Vyse comps, other stuff... benjy coming back from being ill and ladida.

Was a really nice match, though - both teams not 100% serious, though - showmatch alike.

I mean was there ever a single Showmatch where teams went maniac and 100% serious? Can't remember.

WIll def. watch this!

EDG baiting... xD
Coaches etc. reviewing: "Okay, they lost it again."

And then Champions 2024 happening again. :D

For a pure Thai team that played Challengers before they're doing a great job against one of the best teams in the world... but in the end you can simply see that Sentinels are way cooler in heated moments / have much more experience. Mechanically it's pretty even.

*Edit: The Jinx is real.