Sources: Empyros set to join Fnatic in LEC

Fnatic’s new toplaner has finally been determined. While the team was still deliberating over who would fill the role as recently as last week, the player’s identity has now been decided. Panagiotis "Empyros" Tantis will be joining the roster next year, according to Sheep Esports sources.

After three seasons with Óscar "Oscarinin" Muñoz in the toplane, Fnatic is turning the page and bringing in a new player. Having competed in the ERLs for several years, the Greek toplaner recently played for Gentle Mates in the LFL and will now make his LEC debut with one of Europe’s most storied organizations.

Empyros was signed very late in the offseason because Fnatic’s changes in the mid and support positions were still pending—those were the two roles most likely to affect the team’s budget. As a result, Empyros will now reunite with his former teammate Vladimir “Vladi” Kourtidis, with whom he previously played in the Riddle Esports in the NLC.

After a season with M8, Empyros proved his worth in the ERL ecosystem and positioned himself for a leap to the LEC, landing on Fnatic’s shortlist for the role. Competing with Oscarinin and Francesco "Shelfmade" Cardia, as previously reported by Sheep Esports, Fnatic ultimately decided to place its trust in Empyros.

It is an opportunity the player has earned after a year in which he showcased his talent in the LFL with Gentle Mates and in other ERLs prior to that. This season, he secured two third-place finishes in the LFL and reached the EMEA Masters quarterfinals during the Spring Split. He was also considered by Natus Vincere, who ultimately opted for Volodymyr "Maynter" Sorokin instead.

This decision signals a significant turning point for both Fnatic and Oscarinin. Despite a contract running through 2026, he will be moved to the bench and no longer fit into the Orange and Black’s plans. His three-year tenure has been marked by highs and lows but repeatedly overshadowed by collective shortcomings.

This year, after a shaky start to the season during which he came close to being replaced ahead of the Summer Split, he managed to elevate his performance—most notably delivering a standout showing against Karmine Corp to secure Fnatic’s qualification for Worlds. Nevertheless, the team’s international run ended in bitter fashion, without a single victory.

In a post-elimination interview with Sheep Esports, he himself had acknowledged the need for roster changes within Fnatic: “I don’t know what’s gonna happen myself right now, but I think it would be hard to make things work if we keep playing together. I don’t see the full roster staying.” In the end, he is one of those who pay the price for the organization’s decision to restructure, bringing his chapter with Fnatic to a close.

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