- Fnatic is probably moving VALORANT player MAGNUM to the inactive roster
- This is likely due to the organization’s poor performance at the VCT Masters
- The organization played with two substitute players at the event
After Fnatic performed poorly at the VCT Masters in Reykjavík, Iceland, insiders say the organization will bench MAGNUM until it reorganizes.
MAGNUM will be Moved
Fnatic is once again reorganizing its VALORANT roster. The most recent change European organization is making is that it is going to move Martin “MAGNUM” Penkov to the inactive roster, sources told Dot Esports.
This change comes just after Fnatic’s poor performance at the VCT Masters in Reykjavík, Iceland, where the team ended up in last place. The team’s defeat was in no small part due to the fact it had two stand-ins during the event. Joona “H1ber” Parviainen played in place of Nikita “Derke” Sirmitev and Enzo “Fearoth” Mestari substituted Andrew “BraveAF” Gorchakov.
Derke contracted COVID-19 before the event, which forced him to attend the event a few days after the rest of the team had arrived. Meanwhile, BraveAF was temporarily benched by Fnatic due to controversial statements regarding the war in Ukraine. On March 30, the player said that he “never wanted it to be understood like that and never meant it like that.”
Fnatic’s Plans for the Future
With losses to both Ninjas in Pyjamas and ZETA Division, Fnatic has certainly not had it easy the past few months. Failing to win a map at VCT Masters, the team was forced to go home early, with Derke not even managing to return to the roster in time, due to his COIVID quarantine. The controversy surrounding BraveAF’s statements did further damage to the team composition, forcing Fnatic to rely on substitute players, which are not accustomed to playing with this organization.
However, Fnatic has the chance to redeem itself. The team will play in the VCT EMEA Stage Two, which is set to begin shortly after the conclusion of the VCT Masters. This year’s first event is still ongoing and will end on April 24.
As for MAGNUM, it’s still unknown what his fate will be. When he joined the roster along with Derke in April last year, he saw quick growth. “His smart Killjoy and Cypher play has reformed the roster and he has quickly established himself as one of the top players in his role within Europe,” wrote Fnatic for the player.
Perhaps Fnatic just needs time to reorganize and we will soon see MAGNUM in the active roster again.
