Fnatic Proves Champion Status with Back-to-Back World Titles
Fnatic has cemented their status as one of the top esports teams in the world with their impressive back-to-back world titles. On June 25, Fnatic won the VCT Masters Tokyo tournament, becoming the first team in history to win two world championships in a row.
The grand finals of the VCT Masters Tokyo tournament were set to be a thrilling showdown between Fnatic and Evil Geniuses. And while EG had given Fnatic a tough fight earlier in the tournament, the grand finals were where Fnatic really showcased their strength.
It all started on Lotus, where both teams came out guns blazing. Fnatic kept it close in the first half, with the score tied 6-6. But in the second half, Fnatic stepped up their game and conceded just two rounds, wiping out the American representatives 13-8.
Next up was Split, where Fnatic put on a confident defense, leading by four rounds. Both teams used timeouts to break their opponent’s streaks, with nothing separating the two at 11-11. But in round 23, Nikita “Derke” Sirmitev exploded onto the B site and got four kills, earning Fnatic a match point.
With the strength of the double map ban earned from the upper bracket, Fnatic threatened an early finals sweep. But EG wasn’t ready to give up just yet and pulled out a desperate Reyna and Chamber combo on Bind in a do-or-die situation.
In the end, Fnatic proved their champion status and secured their second consecutive world title. They showcased incredible skill and tactics throughout the tournament, and their victory is a testament to their dedication and hard work.
As the Valorant esports community looks ahead to the future, Fnatic’s back-to-back world titles serve as a reminder of the incredible talent and competition within the scene. Congratulations to Fnatic on an incredible victory!
Going into the grand finals, Fnatic knew they were up against a difficult opponent in Evil Geniuses. EG had taken Fnatic off guard with their composition, Boostio on Reyna and Demon1 on Chamber, finding value from their abilities and weaponry.
At the half, EG was up 8-4 and quickly extended their lead after winning the second pistol. It seemed like Fnatic had little chance of catching up, but they fought back to take it to overtime. Two quick rounds led to Fnatic’s second title of 2023.
Reflecting on their win, Timofey “Chronicle” Khromov said, “It was kind of rough for us at the start of Bind, but we realized it was just like LOUD on Icebox in the last finals. We just had to focus on the comeback, focus on our attack side, and it went just as we expected. I’m happy we stayed focused.”
Meanwhile, Leo Jannesson attributed Fnatic’s success to their hard work in practice, saying, “[EMEA] just practice harder than NA. We got the extra spot for our region, and it’ll show at Champions.“
Not only did Fnatic prove their dominance in the tournament, but they also earned another spot for EMEA at VCT Champions with two teams making it out of the Last Chance Qualifier starting on July 19. It’s clear that Fnatic’s back-to-back world titles have solidified their status as champions in the Valorant esports community.
