“Though we misplaced at this time, I nonetheless have large religion within the group,” assured crashies in a post-match interview with Esports Insider.
“We nonetheless have two extra probabilities with the brand new format that they launched this yr. So, I’m not likely frightened. I believe a very powerful half is simply getting reps on stage collectively and simply see what works for us.”
Crashies started his VALORANT esports profession in 2020 beneath Korean esports organisation T1. Solely a yr later, the initiator participant positioned second at his first-ever world occasion, Masters Berlin 2021, alongside ENVY.
Below OpTic Gaming, crashies lifted his first worldwide trophy at Masters Reykjavík 2022 and have become the Champions Istanbul runner-up. After becoming a member of Fnatic in 2025, the American participant has to this point secured two second-place finishes at Masters Toronto and Champions Paris.
Crashies’ First Yr With Fnatic
When crashies first signed with Fnatic, he was coming off a disastrous 2024 season with NRG, throughout which he did not qualify for a worldwide occasion for the primary time in his profession.
“I believe everybody went into that yr, just like the followers, the gamers and simply kinda everybody concerned went into that yr not realizing what to anticipate,” the Americas import recalled.
“You already know Fnatic misplaced Leo and Derke after which picked up me and kaajak, mainly two unknowns, and made a training change and every little thing like that. Nobody actually knew what to anticipate out of us, and I believe that form of performed in our favour.”
In typical Fnatic trend, crashies and his new group subverted the neighborhood’s expectations. After a sluggish Kickoff displaying, the revamped roster bounced again to complete high two at each Masters Toronto and Champions Paris.
“It was a really particular journey for me, and it will likely be a group and a yr that I’ll all the time be glad about,” mirrored crashies on his first yr with Fnatic. “Simply because I didn’t actually know what to anticipate going into it, and that simply made it that significantly better.”
Why Crashies Stayed for 2026
The newest VCT Off//Season noticed loads of headlines surrounding surprising retirements and roster modifications. But regardless of receiving provides from different groups, crashies opted to increase his contract with Fnatic for an additional yr.
When requested about his determination, crashies pointed to none apart from Fnatic’s veteran in-game chief (IGL), Jake ‘Boaster’ Howlett.
“I simply actually believed in Boaster as an IGL and as a frontrunner,” defined crashies. “I noticed how laborious he works and the way profitable his profession has been in VALORANT. It doesn’t matter what group he’s had, he’s all the time kinda been profitable at making it to LANs and grand finals.”
Crashies continued: “I don’t care about cash. Location, clearly, it could be good to be nearer to residence. However I simply need the perfect group potential as a result of I’m not gonna be doing this ceaselessly. So though we misplaced at this time, I nonetheless have a lot religion in us.”
Veqaj Replaces VCT Legend Chronicle
Chronicle’s departure left large footwear to fill for his substitute, former Mild Mates participant, Sylvain ‘Veqaj’ Pattyn. However with a number of younger Fnatic members having confronted related stress prior to now, early onboarding and group bonding have additionally turn out to be simpler.
“After I got here in, or kaajak got here in, we additionally had that very same quantity of stress. Trigger he was changing Derke and I used to be kinda filling Leo’s footwear,” defined crashies.
“And people are two gamers which have been on the peak of VALORANT […] And for him to come back in and kinda do the identical factor, we kinda share the identical expertise, so we may give him suggestions or like issues we will discuss collectively and bond over.”
Furthermore, crashies counseled Veqaj’s work ethic since becoming a member of Fnatic: “He’s been such a stunning particular person and a teammate to get to know. I didn’t actually know a lot about him earlier than he joined, however ever since he joined, he’s simply been keen to be taught, keen to place his head down and grind, show folks unsuitable.”
Confidence Regardless of a Robust Begin
Based on crashies, Fnatic holds itself to a “very excessive commonplace” throughout the VCT EMEA Kickoff 2026, regardless of shedding Chronicle and signing a brand new assistant coach. The group at the moment sits within the center bracket after shedding its opening match in opposition to BBL Esports by 2-0.
“Their aggression was actually good, and I believe it was catching us off guard, particularly within the mid-round,” commented crashies on the collection. “They’ve a double duelist comp, and I believe they performed it very well.”
Crashies additionally shared that as a consequence of frequent travels in addition to Boaster’s absence from main Off//Season tournaments, Fnatic couldn’t get an early head begin in comparison with different groups.
Nonetheless, the 28-year-old stays optimistic in regards to the the rest of Kickoff and the season forward: “I’ve been saying for somewhat bit that I believe we’re gonna scale into the season. I’m not anticipating us to start out actually robust. We’re a group that kinda must heat up once more and get into the texture of matches and simply discover out what works for us and what doesn’t work and issues like that.”
Fnatic’s subsequent match will happen on January twenty seventh in opposition to FUT Esports. Followers can tune into the motion by way of VCT EMEA’s official Twitch and YouTube channels.
