On Wednesday, following one of the closest matches of the
VCT EMEA season so far,
Fnatic secured their second victory of Stage 2. The multiple-time regional champions defeated
Karmine Corp, who had entered the series undefeated in their group. Fnatic will have one final match to play this week, taking on
Team Liquid on Friday.
Meanwhile, the changes made to the roster following Stage 1 are beginning to pay dividends, with the team showing clear signs of improvement in both their coordination and overall level of play. After the victory, team emblematic captain Jake "Boaster" Howlett spoke with Sheep Esports about the performance and Fnatic's recent progress.
What’s your first feeling after the game?
Jake “Boaster” Howlett: “I think a lot of little frustrations, micro-wise, in terms of some of our decision-making and some of our closing out of rounds. But ultimately, I'm very happy because a win is a win. And every win is super important for our growth to Champions. And honestly, we need some high-stress games for practice as well, because when we watch this one back, it's going to be very telling about the problems that we had and stuff. Ultimately, I'm pretty happy with today. Just very tired.
You were facing Karmine Corp today, who started with two victories. What were your thoughts on KC and what kind of game did you expect from them?
Boaster: I think that especially after the EWC event, they've been scaling quite well. They found their style, which is very like prodding around the map, individual plays, and bouncing off of each other. And it's a style that we've struggled with in the past because we just don't know what they're going to do. You can't get a read on it. Although I'd say, actually, a lot of the time we had the right stacks, but then they throw in something to kind of drag us away and stuff. It was a highly stressful game, I think they're definitely shooting prety well too. So I'm pretty happy with their progress, honestly, and so I'm happy with the win because even though they had a rubbish stage one, they're looking a lot better.
You recently made changes to your team with the arrival of Andrey "Engh" Sholokhov and Kirill "Cloud" Nekhozhin. So far, how do you think Engh’s vision has influenced your playstyle?
Boaster: Engh has been very beneficial to the team. He's mainly being kind of like a problem solver right now, not stepping on toes in terms of the overall scheme of the team, because historically what we've had is quite good. We wanted Engh to bring extra benefits to the team. And I think he's doing a pretty good job identifying little problems, talking with the boys one-on-one and getting us thinking a bit more and talking a bit more and playing a different style that we're not normally used to. And I think we're doing it quite well. He's about finding our strengths and I think our strengths need more refining obviously, but I think he's been doing pretty good.
As for Cloud, what do you think he's bringing to the team right now?
Boaster: I think Cloud is lovely fresh air and also on the stage, he's playing absolutely phenomenal right now. He’s winning crazy rounds for us, saving us in big rounds. Honestly, we couldn't ask for anyone better at this moment in time when not all of us are in great form. It's nice to have our substitute who is so much of a right fit for us.
It's the first year where Fnatic isn’t making it to any Masters. Since you have been with Fnatic from the beginning, do you feel like it's the hardest year your team has met so far?
Boaster: Honestly, I think the hardest year for me mentally was 2024, so the year after we won two trophies where we still qualified for international events, but it was a very tumultuous year with a lot of problems happening in terms of our gameplay and stuff, and we couldn't find the right mojo. At least this year it's like it doesn't feel fully in our control at times with the substitutes and the timings of players getting ill and stuff, but I think generally this year has been very good for me. I feel like I am growing as an IGL and deciding what I want to do as it so I'm pretty happy with what's happened there. We haven't qualified for anything and it's kind of sad because you just want to go to the international events, but I'm pretty happy with the growth that I've had personally.
If you had to summarize Fnatic’s season in three words from your perspective, what would you say?
Boaster: Chaotic. Unfortunate. But hopeful.
At the end of Stage 1, and the EWC Qualifier, did you feel like the atmosphere was still as good and as positive as it is supposed to be?
Boaster: This is what's crazy about us. I think most teams would have folded under all the upsets that we've had and the unfortunate timings may have turned into turmoil, but we just kept going. As an athlete and a competitor, you can't control the situations that are happening to you. You lose, you have to learn from it and bounce back. And I think we've done a really good job at bouncing back for this Stage 2. And results-wise, obviously, it's a little bit messy for us in terms of how we're winning these maps, but I guarantee that we are improving. And I think if we obviously get to Champions, we're going to put up a really strong run there. I just believe in what we're capable of. It's just about getting through the EMEA region, which is all over the place in terms of styles right now.
The league looks pretty stacked with a lot of teams that can pretend to make it to Shanghai. Do you feel like your team might be a bit underestimated right now with this amount of teams and the fact that Fnatic still hasn't made it to an international competition this season?
Boaster: Honestly, no. That's the unfortunate thing with our name. We have such a reputation of being a solid team, so every team still wants to beat us, every team knows what we're capable of. So even if we have the worst year possible, people are going to be like, “Yeah, but it's Fnatic, you know what they're capable of.” So I think people would never underestimate us. It's honestly like a blessing and a curse.
If you had to pick the four teams in EMEA who are going to make it to the Champions right now, who would you bet on?
Boaster: I'm going to go with Fnatic, I have to believe in myself. Then I’d say Gentle Mates. I think Vitality will make it maybe off points, they're already quite high up on points, so that means that's a shoe-in, I guess. And the last one… I honestly don't know. There's a lot of contenders, I feel like. It's gonna be pretty close.”
