Fnatic's roster continues to evolve throughout the season. After signing Clément “
CyvOph” Millard as a stand-in to compensate for the absence of Sylvain “
Veqaj” Pattyn during
VCT EMEA Stage 1, the latter is expected to miss the beginning of Stage 2 as well. According to sources close to
Sheep Esports, the organization has decided to bring in Kirill “
Cloud” Nekhozhin from
GIANTX to cover for his absence.
The captain of the Spanish organization, who has been part of the roster since its entry into the VCT in 2023, will therefore join another team in the league for the first time at the age of 22. This decision follows CyvOph’s departure to NAVI, which left an opening in Fnatic’s lineup.
A better option?
Fnatic are arguably experiencing their most difficult competitive year in terms of results since joining the VCT. Having yet to achieve a finish higher than top four this season and without any international appearances, the organization sees its participation at the VALORANT Champions genuinely under threat if results do not improve. Fnatic have never missed the event since its inaugural edition in 2021.
Following a recent Stage 1 playoff elimination without securing a single victory, as well as their failed qualification attempt for the Esports World Cup, Fnatic felt the need to make changes. This new direction notably includes the arrival of Andrey “Engh” Sholokhov as Head Coach and now the addition of Cloud.
Cloud, on the other hand, endured a difficult season with GIANTX. As the team's In-Game Leader and primarily playing information-gathering agents, he and his teammates were unable to replicate the form that saw them reach the VALORANT Champions last season after an impressive Stage 2 run. GIANTX still controlled their own fate on the final day of Stage 1, but a defeat against Eternal Fire denied them a playoff spot, allowing Team Vitality to advance instead. This move therefore marks a new chapter in GIANTX's history and will likely lead to a tactical reorganization within Fnatic’s current roster.
