After a 2025 season defined by near-misses on the biggest stages, Fnatic are running it back for VCT 2026 with a refreshed but now fully-locked core. The Orange and Black had reached the Grand Finals of Masters Toronto, the Esports World Cup in Riyadh and VALORANT Champions 2025 in Paris, finishing second at all three international events.

Rather than rebuild, the organization has opted for continuity. Fnatic locked down long-term extensions for Jake "Boaster" Howlett, Emir Ali "Alfajer" Beder, and Austin "crashies" Roberts, while Polish rising star Kajetan "kaajak" Haremski and French flex player Sylvain "Veqaj" Pattyn round out the five-man lineup to replace Timofey "Chronicle" Khromov going into VCT 2026 EMEA Kickoff in Berlin.

Locking in the project for 2026

Fnatic have doubled down on their existing core while adding fresh talent around it: long-time captain Boaster, who has led the team at every international event since 2021, extended his contract to stay at the helm through 2026, while Alfajer, the star Controller/Flex signed in 2022 and one of EMEA's most consistent fraggers, also renewed on February to remain a pillar of the lineup. crashies joined from NRG in December 2024 and, after quickly establishing himself as the team's main Initiator and secondary voice, signed his own extension locking him in until the end of 2026.

Completing this core, Fnatic brought Polish prospect kaajak up to tier-one on October 31, 2024, after his strong work with Apeks in the VCT Ascension EMEA 2024, and rounded out their 2026 roster at the INZONE London Clash with the addition of French flex player Veqaj, formerly of Gentle Mates, as a flex, coming in for the outgoing flex Timofey "Chronicle" Khoromov.

The sequence of renewals and signings throughout 2024 and 2025 demonstrates Fnatic's commitment to stabilizing its roster after an intense yet successful year. Alfajer's extension in February, Boaster's renewal in October, and crashies deal in November all run through the end of 2026, ensuring the core stays under contract for the entirety of the next VCT cycle.

Behind them, head coach Milan "Milan" de Meij and performance coach Philipp "Szed" Schickor have also extended their contracts, with Milan signed through 2027 and Szed through 2026, further underlining Fnatic's commitment to continuity on the coaching staff.

Fnatic’s VCT 2026 roster