FNS talks chicken nuggets, new players, and result of NRG vs. Cloud9

VCT Americas is back in action with its 2025 Kickoff tournament. We've seen the first round play out, and of course, there were both winners and losers. Unfortunately, FNS and NRG fall under the latter category after facing Cloud9.

Following the contest, esports.gg spoke with the veteran IGL. He gave us insight into the two maps played, his final year of competition, and he shows some love for an old organization he once represented in VALORANT.

Keep your eyes on the esports.gg VALORANT YouTube channel for a video version coming shortly!

"Always tough to speak after a loss, so I appreciate it, and I have to start on a more lighthearted note. The dino nuggies in the walkout were crazy. I have to assume that was bonkar’s idea, but you have to tell me who came up with that, who made the box, all of the details."

FNS: "It was our content team. It wasn't bonkar or anyone on the team. We just found out about it by like 30 minutes before and we're like, alright, we'll do it."

"Okay, simple enough. Onto the game. We’ve got to talk about Fracture. A huge comeback to overtime, just for Cloud9 to finish OT pretty quickly. What would you have liked to see from yourself and the team to have closed it out, or even have prevented the need for that comeback?"

FNS: "On defense side, the communication was good on our team and everyone was calm and collected for the most part. But I mean, I started off terribly, individually. At the same time, our setups were very individualistic.

"Our setups were where we weren't able to trade kills at any point and they were abusing B a lot. We could have done a much better job of playing together at B, myself and Sam (s0m), and I think we would've gotten a lot more traded kills and played out the round a little bit more.

"So, I think a lot of the entries that went their way really shouldn't have gone their way, but even if they did, they should have been traded. It's on us, to not have good enough setups to deal with those. But they did a really good job util wise.

"They had very good hits with Tejo and Breach. The combo was really, really good. So, props to them, but we've seen it before in scrims and stuff like that. It was pretty bad from us that we didn't adjust. That being said, our attack side was obviously much better.

"We were able to make a comeback and I think on that first round, I mean I had a call and someone else had a call, and we ended up doing the call. That wasn't the best one in my opinion and it still wasn't bad, but we ended up pushing Arcade.

"I think that's where the majority of the players were and we knew that, so it probably was better to push the other side. But it's okay. I mean, I'm glad that people make those kinds of calls in high pressure situations, and I think you could always learn from it.

"But in general, I think we showed a lot of resilience, that we were able to make that comeback and I was finally able to get a kill on that attack side <laughs>. So, that was good. But yeah, very, very slow start for me personally. So, individually, I just need to be better."

"Moving onto Lotus. It was a crazy ending. Especially those last few rounds. Cloud9 puts you away there with that Deadlock Ult. When things come down to the wire and the other team has abilities like that in their pocket, how do you navigate that kind of round?"

FNS: "You've just got to contest space to the best of your ability. And honestly, after we were up 9:6, the ideas and reactions we had were actually pretty good, but we weren't able to execute them at all correctly.

"We were missing kills here and there. And I think that's one thing I am proud of with the team is that even if we lost in 0:2 fashion, to a team that people don't think should have been able to beat us. C9 played extremely well, but I think the reactions that we had a lot of the times were very, very strong.

"We also knew how they were playing and what they were doing on Lotus, but we weren't getting the necessary kills that we needed to get, even though we were overstacking the bomb sites, they were hitting.

"It just comes down to form. At the end of the day, we all need to be better. I personally need to be better, individually, like I said on Fracture, but just in general. I think it just comes down to very, very small things on those rounds that kind of gave them a little bit of momentum.

"After the 9:6 lead that we had, they just kind of started coming back slowly and every single round up until like 10:9, we weren't contesting A at all. So, our adjustment was to start contesting A and they did a really good job of thinking that we would do that.

"They adapted and started playing out the map towards B and C. And they were also very good at pausing and then re-hitting another site. So, yeah, big shout out to C9 for playing as well as they did, but we just have to be better. Just better individually. I think if we were playing the way we normally do individually, the game would've been closer for sure."

"So, in VALORANT, you’ve been the IGL for some top tier players. Yay, crashies, Victor, Demon1. Tell me about mada and Verno. Because they looked really good out there. What’s their potential like in this game?"

FNS: "I mean, the sky's the limit for those players. We've seen it, obviously, during the off-season. I'm sure we're going to see it during the year as well. It's definitely very fun and enjoyable playing with newer players for me, just because you just get a breath of fresh air.

"You get new players, you get new personalities and stuff, and those pose their own challenges along with their own good things. So, in that sense, it's been really, really fun getting to know them, getting to play with them, kind of learning how they play, and doing the best that I can to facilitate and make them play their best.

"I'm excited to see what the year holds. Obviously, this is not the start we were looking for, but I mean, it's only one match. I think at this point it's expected that I'm just going to end up in the lower bracket no matter what <laughs>. So, yeah, just have to come back and be better."

"Well, circling back to bonkar, and him also being a new piece of the NRG puzzle. Compared to Chet, what’s his coaching style like? What has he brought to the table that might even be new to a veteran like yourself?"

FNS: "I mean, both Chet and bonkar are extremely good tactically. I think there's a very little difference between the two. The only real big difference is maybe personality. And I think I've said this in other interviews as well.

"Bonkar has a lot more energy, in terms of just outward energy towards his teammates. And it's very positive all the time. He is a very positive person. Chet was just very nonchalant and chill and I think that's the big difference between them.

"And I think for the team we had, Chet was good for that team, because no one needed to be hyped up and stuff, but on this team, I think bonkar is better. Just because he's able to pick people up when they feel like they're down or they're not comming as much. We have younger, more inexperienced players, and he's able to of get everybody on the same page, emotionally at least."

"Speaking of other interviews. We've heard you say this will for sure be your last year competing. You have that lower bracket run next. There’s still the different Stages towards the end of the year if NRG bows out here, but how hungry are you for another trophy to end things on a high note?"

FNS: "It's always going to be the same for me. I'm playing to win no matter what. It's just going to come down to how hard we work as a team. For me personally, the hunger will always be there until the day I'm done playing. I'm wanting to try to be the best or, at the very least, qualify for these events.

"So, like in the last two, three years that I've competed, not qualifying for an event is a very new thing for me. So, the expectation will always be that I need to qualify for an event no matter what. And I think my teammates are very similar in that sense.

"We just want to go to as many events as we can obviously, but we have to play to the level that we know we can. And today, we didn't and got punished for it. So, we're just going to have to pick it up and see what happens. I don't know when we play next, but in like the next four or five days."

"Well, knowing the end is near, so to speak. Do you feel like you have something to prove then? I mean, what kind of legacy as a player do you want to leave behind when you hang it up for real?"

FNS: "Truthfully, it's not really crossed my mind that much, that question, because I feel like I've already done more than most esports players do in terms of longevity and how long I've played. And I'm pretty proud of that.

"So, like if I were to call it quits right now, for example, I don't think I would have any regrets, in terms of if I feel like I should have done more or something like that. Obviously, you have minimal regrets here and there as you, you've had your journey or whatever and you like think about what if this went this way, what if I did this better?

"But in terms of my overall journey as an esports player, I think I'm pretty proud of where it's brought me. And that being said, I think that's why I'm so confident in it being my last year. I don't think I feel like I have any more to prove as an in-game leader.

"There's no excuse to have a performance, individually, like the one I had today and I need to be better. So, that's one thing I try to keep in mind the best that I can, is I need to play at my best and if I don't, we'll lose. And I think that goes for every single player on the team."

"And one last off topic question. I don’t know if you saw, but hastr0 acquired the rights back for the Envy brand today. I know it probably holds a special place in your heart and the organization was vital to NA VALORANT for a longtime. I’d just like to close out with your thoughts on Envy's return, if you think the org could make a run in VALORANT again, whatever you’d like to say."

FNS: "No. I mean, that'd be cool as hell seeing hastr0 back in action with a new team. That'd be awesome. The guy had been nothing but great to me and my teammates when I was on that team, so I have nothing bad to say at all about him.

"Only compliments here. He's only shown us love and a lot of respect, and I think it goes both ways. I think it's pretty awesome, if we see the Envy name here in VALORANT again or any esport for that matter, that'd be really, really cool to see."

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