Fnatic enters pro Valorant with a new European roster

Fariha Bhatti Published 03/02/2021

Fnatic has finally revealed its anticipated Valorant roster, led by Jake “Boaster” Howlett.

Valorant is still in its embryonic stages in terms of esports, but the professional scene’s growth has been exemplary. A plethora of notable esports organizations have entered Valorant to establish a fresh competitive ecosystem, and Fnatic is the latest to follow in the footsteps of other legendary teams.

The organization has exploded into the Valorant scene with a new roster.

Introducing Fnatic VALORANT.@OfficialBoaster @domaVALORANT @misticJK @Moe40 @tsackk
Let’s go ???? — FNATIC (@FNATIC) February 3, 2021

Teased initially with a clip of Valorant and Fnatic logo, it had become evident that the organization is stepping into the bustling Valorant esports scene. However, a clip was all the information that Fnatic gave away, keeping zealous fans on their toes. The roster’s long-overdue announcement was finally made through a countdown broadcast on Twitch, which showed the former SUMN FC lineup’s acquisition.

While some may be unfamiliar with SUMN FC roster, the quintet is well-known in the European region as a dominant force in Valorant. Their most notable performance came at Valorant First Strike Europe, where the team finished second after losing against Team Heretics. The Boaster led roster has actively participated in tons of tournaments, which is why the captain believes they are not entering as underdogs.

“I don’t see us as underdogs. I think we had already made enough impact in the scene to be top four, top five,” Boaster said in an interview.

The team enters the fore with a decorated resume and some trophies already on the shelf. Despite that gleaming past, the roster may face some pressure as Fnatic has a reputation to live up to. The organization has a dazzling record in the Counter-Strike: Global Offensive scene, which may be tough to replicate in Valorant with such a young roster. Fortunately, play in Valorant esports is still far from fully developed, which should allow the younger Fnatic roster to find its footing.

“With our record of success in FPS games such as Counter-Strike, we’re looking forward to writing this new chapter in Fnatic’s history, and building our legacy in a new title.” Fnatic’s chief gaming officer Patrik “cArn” Sättermon said.

Members of the mixed roster is currently practising from their own countries. The in-game leader has confirmed that the team will unite in England in a few months to start a bootcamp. Fans can see the newly minted roster in action for the first time in the Valorant Champions tour challengers on February 4.

Fnatic’s Valorant roster for Champions tour:

Jake “Boaster” Howlett
Domagoj “Doma” Fancev
James “Mistic” Orfila
Muhammad “Moe40” Hariff
Kostas “tsack” Theodoropoulos

Fariha Bhatti

About Fariha Bhatti

Fariha Bhatti is a long-time gaming writer who loves competitive FPS games and slots with particularly fun themes. She got her start playing classic games developed by SNK, from legendary fighting game series The King of Fighters to challenging platform franchise Metal Slug. She now spends most of her time playing Valorant and Counter-Strike 2 while working her way through new slot releases to find her next favorite. Fariha has been published at PCGamesN, TalkEsport and ONE Esports.

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