FNC CyvOph: "The hardest thing in VCT is staying there long term, having that work ethic"

CyvOph reflects on the loss to Vitality, his move to Fnatic, his return to the VCT scene, and what it takes to establish himself at the highest level for the long term.

CyvOph during the game against VITALITY. Credit: Michał Konkol/Riot Games

"The important thing was just to make it to London and win. The run isn’t over"

Following an emergency signing to replace French player Sylvain “Veqaj” Pattyn at Fnatic, Clement "CyvOph" Millard, the new player, accorded to Sheep Esports a post-match interview after their loss to Vitality. He discussed his arrival on the roster, his adjustment to the team, his outlook on the future of the VALORANT Champions Tour EMEA, and other topics.

How are you feeling after this game, and what does it mean to face Vitality tonight?

Clement "CyvOph" Millard: “I feel a bit sad, obviously. We were one game away from London, we lost, and now we have to win two or three more matches in the lower bracket.

What does it feel like to play against Vitality?

CyvOph: Not much, honestly. As I’ve already said, I don’t really care who I play against, or rather, who we play against. The important thing was just to make it to London and win. The run isn’t over.

On Breeze, you seemed rather absent at the start, then we really saw a big wake-up from your side on the second map, with both teams going all the way to overtime. What changed between map one and map two?

CyvOph: Not really. On Breeze, I think we were a little bit surprised. We lost rounds on almost nothing, things like 1v2s, stuff like that, and those are important rounds. So by the end of the game, it shows. What changed between the two maps was simply that we woke up. We told ourselves we had to step up. We had a 9-3 first half, then they came back against us, but we just reminded ourselves that we were there, and then we climbed back into it. Unfortunately, we couldn’t close it out.

I wanted to come back to one point: this isn’t your first time playing in VCT, aside from Vitality, etc. Compared to your first appearance, how do you feel, and what, in your opinion, separates that first experience from this one?

CyvOph: Honestly, good. I have a team that helps me a lot on the human side. They really make me feel comfortable. As for the difference between the two experiences, honestly, for now, I think it’s too early to really see it. On top of that, we’re in a rush. I joined Fnatic one or two weeks ago, and I haven’t really had much time, since we immediately went into BBL and then this match. So there isn’t much difference, honestly. It feels quite similar, apart from the fact that the team gets along really well. Other than that, not much difference.

Fnatic before the game against VITALITY at VCT EMEA. Credit: Michał Konkol/Riot Games

How did you manage to stay in shape during all that time when you were off? Because you still went through GL and so on. What allowed you to come back so sharp from your very first match, in your opinion?

CyvOph: During all the time when I was, in quotation marks, “off,” I was playing ranked and so on. I kept playing the game. Then, it’s also the fact that I joined Fnatic, so there’s the hype and everything. And I’m still in shape. I’m quite young, so getting back into it isn’t too much of a problem. But no, I was just playing ranked, etc. I’ve always been spamming the game. I never really stopped, honestly. And the trials also went really well. So yeah, just keep playing the game, and that’s it.

You mentioned the trials. Last week, Jake “Boaster” Howlett joked on the official stream that he didn’t understand why Vitality benched you because you were smurfing. Looking back, how did you feel stepping on stage for your first game?

CyvOph: Very excited and happy, honestly, to be back on stage. It’s something I had been waiting for a lot after what happened with Vitality. So yeah, a lot of happiness, and just being happy to be back on stage. It was fine, I slept well, and everything.

How has your integration into the team gone? And with one extra week of practice, are you starting to find your place, whether in the game plans or even in voice comms?

CyvOph: It has gone really well with Fnatic. It’s a mistake I made previously with Vitality, for example, maybe being too much on the side and not using my voice enough. That’s something I wanted to change here at Fnatic. In terms of plans, yes, I do contribute. Boaster does the calling and everything, but on micro-decisions, it’s usually me. Since I play KAY/O or even Phoenix, that means I have to give the information or make those calls.

And I do it pretty comfortably. Usually, we follow the plans and everything, so yeah.

You made your name in the French league, and you are not the only one to have made that transition, with Sylvain “Veqaj” Pattyn for example. What do you think French talent is missing to have a better chance of joining the VCT EMEA league?

CyvOph: I think joining it isn’t the biggest problem. I think every player in France can make it there. The hardest thing in VCT is staying there long term, having that work ethic. Because it’s really a life where you dedicate your whole life to it. You are with your teammates every day. Your goal is obviously to make Masters, the World Cup, Champions, etc. So I think the long-term work is the hardest part when it comes to staying in Tier 1.”