Team Heretics will be a
VCT EMEA partner team for the 2027-2028
VALORANT esports cycle, the team announced on Sunday. The revamped system is set to bring
a host of changes to the season formats, including the return of the open circuit, with partner teams gaining a head start in qualifying for international events and
increased financial perks.
Team Heretics were one of the first big names in VALORANT esports, having won First Strike Europe in 2020. Since then, the team didnât find much success and faded away before being selected as a partner team in 2023. They didnât start too hot in the franchising era but quickly established themselves as a top force in EMEA by the end of 2024. The popular Spanish organization will look to bounce back and recapture its former glory after a disappointing end to 2026.
A legacy organization
Since 2024, Team Heretics have been a mercurial team to follow. The roster of Benjy âbenjyfishyâ Fish, Enes âRieNsâ Ecirli, Mert âWo0tâ Alkan, RiÄardas âBooâ LukaĆĄeviÄius, and Dominykas âMiniBooâ LukaĆĄeviÄius, alongside notable stand-in Patryk âpaTiTekâ Fabrowski was a force to be reckoned with. This roster was the pinnacle of Hereticsâ success in VCT, accumulating multiple deep runs, including runner-up finishes at Masters Shanghai 2024 and Champions 2024. Despite this consistency, the team never made the final push to lift a trophy until the Esports World Cup 2025.
2026 saw MiniBoo leave the team, but many expected Heretics to remain top dogs. However, they had a surprising dip in form at the start of the year before claiming their first-ever VCT EMEA title. The title proved to be a flash in the pan as Heretics crumbled in the later stages of the year, ultimately being eliminated by Eintracht Frankfurt in the Stage 2 Play-ins.
Regardless of the recent results, Team Heretics are one of the most popular organizations and represent Spain, a region with a large VCT viewership base. Their past success, commitment to VALORANT esports since 2020, and dedicated fanbase are probably key factors in keeping their VCT EMEA partner team status.
A fresh start for Heretics in 2027
Heading into 2027, the organization is set to move on from the rest of its iconic core and start fresh by adding new pieces such as
Emirhan âhiroâ Kat,
Caide âchloricâ Heaton, and
Ryad âJamelinho213â Bentot, as previously reported by
Sheep Esports. Team Heretics struck gold by bringing in rookies at the start of 2024; only time will tell whether they can strike gold yet again in VCT 2027.
