In a match between perennial regional powerhouses, FNATIC FNATIC Europe Rank #4 crashies Austin Roberts Boaster Jake Howlett kaajak Kajetan Haremski Chronicle Timofey Khromov Alfajer Emir Ali Beder and Natus Vincere Natus Vincere Europe Rank #22 ANGE1 Kyrylo Karasov Shao Andrey Kiprsky Ruxic Uğur Güç hiro Emirhan Kat koalanoob Gianfranco Potestio clashed, with survival in EMEA Kickoff on the line.

The series saw hiro cross paths with his former team for the first time. After Leo stepped away, he came in to start for FNATIC during EMEA Stage 2 and Champions 2024.

The three-map series played out on Natus Vincere's Pearl, FNATIC's Fracture, and the decider map Haven.

Pearl, a map that's been a go-to ban for FNATIC in past years, wasn't banned in the matchup against NAVI. FNATIC fielded a double Initiator comp that saw Alfajer on Tejo, with Derke replacement kaajak filling the Yoru role. The more attack-sided map played out as such. FNATIC held onto a 9-3 halftime lead, and despite dropping six of the first seven rounds in the second half, they closed the map 13-9.

A clinical 3v3 retake from FNATIC.

After getting their map pick stolen, NAVI had their work cut out for them. With FNATIC attacking first on their own pick of Fracture, they had the opportunity to seize the momentum of the map. However, NAVI controlled the pace of the game, a trend that continued through the second half after a 6-6 halftime tie.

NAVI shuts down FNATIC to reach match point.

FNATIC struggled to find a foothold on their attack half, giving up six first deaths and only finding three of their own in the half, leading to a 13-8 NAVI win.

On Haven, FNATIC returned to the team comp that they ran at Champions 2024, centered around Alfajer on Iso and kaajak on Yoru, while crashies 's addition moved Chronicle to Cypher. FNATIC again began on attack, and on the more attack-sided map looked to grab an early advantage.

Despite the past success of the double Duelist comp in the past, FNATIC only managed four rounds in the first half, facing an 8-4 deficit. Momentum switched hands several times throughout the second half. NAVI won the pistol round to grab a fifth straight round, only for FNATIC to respond with an anti-eco round.

ANGE1 turning back the clock for this 1v4.

NAVI seemed to put the final nails in the coffin with three straight rounds, but a run of five straight FNATIC rounds and momentum continuing to sway between the two teams knotted the score at 12 each.

After trading attack wins in the first pair of overtime rounds and then winning theirs, FNATIC relied on a moment of huge heroics from kaajak to seal the map. They came back from an 11-5 deficit to win and eliminate NAVI.

kaajak with possibly the biggest round of his young FNATIC career.

kaajak ended with a match-high 73 kills while posting a sharp 41% headshot rate, while Alfajer's 59 was second in the lobby. The duo combined for 23 first kills across all three maps, with 10 of them coming on map three.

After three maps, a few technical pauses, and the first series of the day also going to three maps, FNATIC and NAVI ended late for the locals. The match ended just minutes before the clock hit 1 a.m. in Berlin, where the match was played.

FNATIC awaits the winner of Gentle Mates Gentle Mates Europe Rank #24 K4DAVRA Thomas Johner RobbieBk Robbie Boerkamp Minny Patrik Hušek Zyppan Pontus Eek Click Haydem Ali and KOI KOI Europe Rank #40 grubinho Grzegorz Ryczko sheydos Bogdan Naumov Filu Dawid Czarnecki flyuh Xavier Carlson soulcas Dom Sulcas , while NAVI will be out of action until EMEA Stage 1 begins in March.

VCT EMEA Kickoff will continue with the following matches: