Fnatic Falls Short at VALORANT Champions, finishing fourth
Despite high expectations, Fnatic disappoints with a fourth-place finish at VALORANT Champions. After a strong showing on the international stage this year, many considered them heavy favorites. However, they were eliminated on Thursday, suffering their second loss to LOUD during the playoffs.
The disappointment was evident as Fnatic’s players, including Boaster and Chronicle, showed their frustration at the post-match press conference. This marked the third consecutive year in which their promising start to the season dwindled in Champions. Nevertheless, this year’s run was their most successful to date.
While Fnatic achieved success in Brazil, Berlin, and Japan, it seems these accomplishments may have contributed to their downfall in Los Angeles.
During the press conference, some players expressed their frustrations regarding the lack of preparation they had throughout the year and for Champions. Boaster stated, “You stay ’til the end of the event and you go again and you go again… and maybe everyone gets knocked out first and has a break to recuperate… and we’re going straight back into it.”
“We don’t have time to prepare,” added Chronicle. “It’s annoying for the team that’s able to qualify for every event; there’s no chance to be stable. There’s a bigger risk of burning out.”
Related: Pro VALORANT analyst warns of increased player burnout due to stacked 2024 schedule
However, it’s important to note that Fnatic did not attribute their losses solely to a lack of preparation caused by a hectic schedule. Mini acknowledged that LOUD did an excellent job of preparing a composition that countered theirs on Haven. The team also admitted to making some errors in their overall event preparation, which they need to address privately.
Chronicle’s concerns about burnout align with his worries about next year’s schedule. With two splits for each VCT league, two Masters events, and a two-week kickoff tournament in 2024, the number of matches to be played will significantly increase.
Moreover, these matches will feel more condensed rather than spread out, resulting in a much busier season for players. Although Riot aims to provide a longer break at the end, the schedule still presents challenges.
esports, VALORANT, Fnatic, VALORANT Champions, LOUD, press conference, player burnout, schedule