Fnatic have moved Andrey “BraveAF” Gorchakov and Martin “Magnum” Peňkov to the inactive roster, both for different reasons. BraveAF wasn’t able to attend VALORNT Champions Tour 2022 Stage 1 Masters for Fnatic, and the team moved him due to similar issues in the future. As for Magnum, the team chose to move him more due to his recent performances.
Updates on our Valorant team: Magnum and BraveAF to move to the inactive roster.
Both @just_magnum and @braveaff are incredible players and we want to thank them for everything they've brought to the team.
More details here: https://t.co/wdT94EjAQR pic.twitter.com/itEubXO6iS
— FNATIC (@FNATIC) April 22, 2022
BraveAF and Magnum move off the roster
When Fnatic were heading into Stage 1 Masters, their team looked to compete on LAN, much like how they did at Champions in 2021. However, recent signing BraveAF couldn’t travel with the team due to a team-chosen suspension. With that and a positive COVID case from star player Nikita “Derke” Sirmitev, Fnatic were heading into Masters down two players on their roster. The team managed to get two substitutes in, with Derke waiting on the sidelines in Iceland until his quarantine ended. Unfortunately for Derke, he never got to play as Fnatic got eliminated early in the group stages to ZETA DIVISION.
The team itself looked weak, but with two key members of their team unavailable, it made sense to fans and analysts. Especially with the scenario the roster was in, the team fought but couldn’t make it far. Heading back home, the team decided to make changes to the roster. BraveAF and Magnum joined the inactive roster, with Fnatic aiming to change for Stage 2.
Fnatic’s future
With these two moves, Fnatic’s roster now remains as:
- Jake “Boaster” Howlett
- James “Mistic” Orfila
- Nikita “Derke” Sirmitev
- Tom “otom” Hart (substitute)
Only three main roster players remain, alongside the emergency substitutes of Enzo “Fearoth” Mestari and Joona “H1ber” Parviainen. According to a post on Fnatic’s website, these moves will mean “Boaster will be moving to a more support role while Mistic switches to flex role.” As for who will replace these two departures on the Fnatic roster, there are opportunities for the substitutes to step up into a full-time role. As of right now, Fnatic have yet to complete their roster for the next stage of VCT.
