Boaster and Derke reflect on Fnatic roster additions impacting their individual performances cover image

Boaster and Derke reflect on Fnatic roster additions impacting their individual performances

Derke and Boaster tell us the reasons for their stellar performances and how the new additions affect them.

Fnatic are the final team to reach the top four at VCT LOCK//IN Sao Paolo after a dominant 2-0 victory over 100 Thieves.

While Fnatic has always been a title contender for any tournament they’ve attended in the past, this current roster feels it’s cruising through.

Their first two matches were against home crowd favorites - first Sentinels and later FURIA. Today, they cushed the hopes of 100Thieves, NA's final hope.

Speaking on the 100Thieves performance today, Coach Mini felt 100Thieves were not playing at their full potential. Fnatic won Fracture 13-1 and had a near-similar lead on Icebox before 100 Thieves put together a late comeback. This comeback fell short.

"I guess attack (on Icebox) was a bit more difficult. But yeah, I think I didn't expect it to go that well. Obviously thought we would win. I think that they picked fracture into us, which was a mistake, obviously."

Fnatic poses for a photo at press conference after victory at the VALORANT Champions Tour 2023: LOCK//IN Groups Stage on February 26, 2023 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. From top left - Derke, Chronicle, Alfajer, Coach Mini, Boaster. (Photo by Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games)
Fnatic poses for a photo at press conference after victory at the VALORANT Champions Tour 2023: LOCK//IN Groups Stage on February 26, 2023 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. From top left - Derke, Chronicle, Alfajer, Coach Mini, Boaster. (Photo by Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games)

Boaster on the reasons for his strong showing at VCT LOCK//IN 

The team IGL, Boaster, has had some incredible performances in the three matches Fnatic have played so far. With 178.5 ACS across three maps, he was a big reason for Fnatic's enthralling victory over FURIA. Speaking on his performance at this event, the IGL credits the team’s past experiences dealing with losses and learning from them as a big reason for his success. 

“I think it's just a kind of build up from the losses and our past events and each event like we get stronger and stronger, whether that's with roster changes, or just tactically like we see the flaws in our tactics when we go to these events and we're in high stress scenarios," said Boaster.

And of course, he’s always more than ready to highlight his teammates’ excellent performances, with the new players adding immense firepower to the roster.

“We're not only did we kind of fix up some of our overall tactics and gameplay and style. We've also added two super legendary players who are obviously popping heads and making big rounds for us that sometimes may not have been made in previous rosters. So yeah, I mean, it's kind of it's kind of that like my past teams have been good. But this this one takes the the cherry on top.”

Meanwhile, Derke has been one of the most consistent performers on Fnatic. With a 279.7 ACS at Sao Paulo, Derke has often been at the top of the Fnatic scoreboard.. When asked if he felt any less responsibility on the team after the two new additions, Derke said he was just focusing on himself.

"I feel like I've kind of come with different mindsets and preparations from my side, and just, have got a lot of experience from previous LANs and just trying my best," Derke reflected. "Now, I don't think too much about like, feeling responsible or not, because I'm just trying to do my job, basically."

Fnatic will take on NAVI in the second semifinals on Friday. On the other side of the bracket, and in the first semifinal of the event, we will see DRX take on LOUD for a spot in the Grand Finals. Check out esports.gg's exclusive VCT LOCK//IN coverage hub.

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