We have just been done and dusted with the final day of week 5 of VCT EMEA 2023. As we had already predicted before, Fnatic & NaVi will be walking out of the arena as victors and that is exactly what happened. Let’s check out how the matches turned out here at Gamopo!
Fnatic & NaVi Get The W
FUT Esports vs Fnatic
Rosters
FUT Esports
- Buğra ‘mojj’ Kiraz
- Doğukan ‘qRaxs’ Balaban
- Konur ‘qw1’ Alp Şahin
- Furkan ‘MrFaliN’ Yeğen
- Ata ‘ATA KAPTAN’ Tan
Fnatic
- Jake ‘Boaster’ Howlett
- Nikita ‘Derke’ Sirmitev
- Emir ‘Alfajer’ Ali Beder
- Leo ‘Leo’ Jannesson
- Timofey ‘Chronicle’ Khromov
Map Picks & Bans
- FNC ban Pearl
- FUT ban Fracture
- FNC pick Icebox
- FUT pick Lotus
- FNC ban Split
- FUT ban Ascent
- Haven remains
The Series
Map 1 (Icebox)
The first map of the night was Icebox which is Fnatic’s favorite playground. Fnatic started the map off just the way they wanted- winning the first two rounds. However, FUT Esports was quick to respond as they won the next four rounds at a stretch. The rest of the first half was pretty much Fnatic making a comeback. The first half ended 7-5 in favor of Fnatic.
As the sides were changed, Fnatic really put their game faces on and put up a way better performance on attack. They needed only 6 more rounds to pick up the map and that’s exactly what they did. Fnatic picked up all of the rounds on attack and won on Icebox. It was none other than Alfajer that put on a stellar performance for his team.
Map 2 (Lotus)
It was now time to show up at FUT’s map pick of Lotus. Fnatic stuck by their game plan and chose not to go for an atypical team composition. Fnatic started Lotus on the right foot by winning the first two rounds yet again. While they couldn’t follow up by winning the bonus round, they made amends by making sure FUT can’t pick up consecutive rounds. The first half ended 8-4 in favor of Fnatic.
Heading into the second half, FUT was in a rather uncomfortable position. They had to recollect themselves and get their strategies right in order to make a comeback. But that’s quite the herculean task against this Fnatic roster! Fnatic kept their composure and won Lotus 13-5. With the second map done and dusted, it was a comfortable 2-0 victory for the Turkish giants.
.@Alfajervl is just too smooth! 😍 #VCTEMEA pic.twitter.com/evOzzpqfI5
— VALORANT Champions Tour EMEA (@valesports_emea) April 28, 2023
Team Vitality vs. Natus Vincere
Rosters
Team Vitality
- Jokūbas ‘ceNder’ Labutis
- Santeri ‘BONECOLD’ Sassi
- Michał ‘MOLSI’ Łącki
- Tomas ‘Destrian’ Linikas
- Karel ‘Twisten’ Ašenbrener
Natus Vincere
- Kyrylo ‘ANGE1’ Karasov
- Mehmet ‘cNed’ Yağız İpek
- Dmitry ‘SUYGETSU’ Ilyushin
- Andrey ‘Shao’ Kiprsky
- Pontus ‘Zyppan’ Eek
Map Picks & Bans
- VIT ban Pearl
- NAVI ban Haven
- VIT pick Split
- NAVI pick Fracture
- VIT ban Icebox
- NAVI ban Lotus
- Ascent remains
Map 1 (Split)
Vitality’s first pick of Split wasn’t a surprise at all as they have tons of experience on that map. But NaVi’s start on Split surely made Vitality scratch their heads. A determined NaVi roster made sure that they won the first pistol rounds. While they did concede their bonus round, they kept the momentum on their side throughout the first half. And that is why the first half finished 9-3 in favor of NaVi.
The second half saw Vitality recollecting themselves and putting on a better show. CeNder and Twisten tried their level best to bring their team back into the match. An impressive comeback was on the horizon as Team Vitality almost equaled the scores at 10-11. However, the NaVi team made sure not to drag it any further and picked up two rounds to win their first map of the night.
ANGE1 and cNed decided they'd had enough #VCTEMEA pic.twitter.com/p8rmrmJtsl
— NAVI Valorant (@NAVIValorant) April 28, 2023
Map 2 (Fracture)
It was now time for the two teams to play on NaVi’s map pick. With Vitality starting on defense, they picked up the first two pistol rounds. But NaVi soon leveled the score 2-2 by winning the next two rounds. It was Vitality again in the driver’s seat as they won two rounds of their own. But the rest of the first half saw NaVi dominate. The first half was over with NaVi up 7-5.
The second half came with intense neck and neck competition. Vitality won the first round but couldn’t follow it up with the next round. The following rounds saw things go back and forth as both looked desperate to win on Fracture. But Vitality eventually caught up to Natus Vincere with the score line reading 10-10. At this point, one of the teams had to step up and it was NaVi. They picked up the next three rounds without flinching and won the map 13-10. As expected, NaVi came out on top!
The VCT EMEA 2023 action returns on Wednesday with Team Vitality set to face Fnatic. NaVi will face Team Liquid next in about a week’s worth of time. Can both Fnatic & NaVi continue their domination at the VCT EMEA 2023?
