“The hardest thing in VCT is staying there long term,” Clément “CyvOph” Millard told Sheep Esports shortly after joining Fnatic a month ago. While his spell with the British organization proved short-lived, CyvOph will be extending his second stint in the
VALORANT EMEA elite.
Having arrived at Fnatic midway through Stage 1 as a stand-in due to health issues affecting Sylvain “Veqaj” Pattyn, the French player has, according to sources, now found a verbal agreement with
Natus Vincere. Absent from competition at the start of the year, CyvOph will therefore remain in VCT EMEA for Stage 2 and until the end of the season. He is expected to replace Dawid “Filu” Czarnecki, who has been moved to the bench by the Ukrainian team. At Fnatic, CyvOph did not truly have time to make an impact. Joining shortly before the final week of the group stage, he and Fnatic were eliminated early in the playoffs after losses to both Stage 1 finalists: Team Vitality, his former team, in the upper bracket, and Team Heretics in the lower bracket.
After missing Masters Santiago following a disappointing Kickoff, Fnatic also failed to qualify for Masters London, finishing only 5th–6th in the split. These results fell well short of the organization’s usual standards, having dominated the region in previous seasons. The downward trend continued at the Esports World Cup Qualifier, where Fnatic and CyvOph were sent to the lower bracket by Karmine Corp, despite KC failing to win a single match during VCT EMEA Stage 1. On May 30, Jake “Boaster” Howlett’s side were ultimately eliminated in the lower bracket... by NAVI.
However, CyvOph will have to wait for the resumption of the VCT to make his debut under his new colours. The Ukrainian organization also failed to qualify for the EWC,
relocated to Paris due to geopolitical tensions between the US and Iran destabilising the region, suffering a heavy 0–3 defeat to BBL in the qualification match. Like Fnatic, NAVI are enduring a highly inconsistent season. Finishing only 7th–8th in the Kickoff during club legend Kyrylo “ANGE1” Karasov’s first steps as head coach, the team also failed to reach the Stage 1 playoffs. CyvOph and his new club are therefore experiencing similar trajectories, which they will need to reverse heading into Stage 2.
