VALORANT: Fnatic Wins Stage 1 of the VCT EMEA

Fnatic reclaims its throne. Victors of both Stages of the 2024 VCT EMEA season, the Black and Orange were dethroned at the start of the 2025 campaign, finishing only fifth during the Kickoff tournament. However, this Sunday, the British club reset the narrative by dispatching Team Heretics in dominant fashion (3-0) in the grand final of Stage 1 of the regional competition. Jake "Boaster" Howlett and his teammates had already defeated the Spanish squad two days earlier in the upper bracket final, without dropping a single map (2-0).

The series began on Split, Fnatic’s first map pick — a map Team Heretics had frequently banned this season. The balance of power was immediately evident, with FNC taking the first seven rounds on attack. Led by an exceptional Kajetan "kaajak" Haremski (2.47 of Rating 2.0 on Yoru), Fnatic claimed the opening map with composure, 13-4. Milan "Milan" de Meij’s players went even further on Icebox, securing the first nine rounds on defense with a composition featuring no Duelist. Less convincing on attack, Fnatic allowed Heretics to close the gap to 11-9 before ultimately winning the map 13-9.

Fracture proved to be the only genuinely contested map. For the first time in the series, the Spanish team opened with a lead (4-0). Fnatic responded with a strong defensive half and entered halftime ahead (7-5). The teams remained deadlocked after 24 rounds (12-12), sending the map into overtime, which Fnatic edged out 14-12. The standout performer of the final, kaajak concluded the series with 73 kills — 26 more than Timofey "Chronicle" Khromov and Mert "Wo0t" Alkan, the next closest players behind the Polish Duelist — and finished with a 2.0 rating of 1.70.

With this victory, Fnatic bypasses the Swiss Stage of the upcoming Masters Toronto (June 11–25) and qualifies directly for the playoffs. Team Heretics and Team Liquid, on the other hand, will need to go through the initial phase. The last international victory for the EMEA region dates back to the Masters Tokyo — a title also claimed by Fnatic.