baddyG: I am very grateful for this opportunity

Last week, Kamil "baddyG" Graniczka joined FunPlus Phoenix as a substitute. The young Pole replaced Kirill "ANGE1" Karasiow, who is not able to compete in VCT 2022 - EMEA - Stage 1 - Challengers - Main Event, due to the current crisis in Ukraine. The former NOM eSports player has already made his FPX debut in the winning match against Team Liquid, in which he was named as MVP by community. To mark the occasion, we interviewed baddyG, who will tell us a bit about his transfer to FPX and much more.

VCT 2022 - EMEA - Stage 1 - Challengers - Main Event

Team Liquid

0

X

2

FunPlus Phoenix

Group A, Best of 3 - March 12, 2022 - 3:00PM

6

Ascent

13

7

Haven

13

Team Liquid

player

Rating

ACS

K/D/A

+/-

K/D

KAST

ADR

HS%

FBSR

FB

FD

ScreaM

1.03

218

29/31/12

-2

0.94

72.1%

137.6

37%

100%

1

0

L1NK

0.93

178

25/28/14

-3

0.89

66.7%

111.6

28%

60%

3

2

Nivera

0.87

183

27/29/7

-2

0.93

66.7%

111.8

23%

14%

1

6

Jamppi

0.78

194

26/34/2

-8

0.76

64.2%

122.6

38%

50%

9

9

soulcas

0.49

118

14/32/10

-18

0.44

64.7%

82.9

20%

33%

3

6

FunPlus Phoenix

player

Rating

ACS

K/D/A

+/-

K/D

KAST

ADR

HS%

FBSR

FB

FD

Zyppan

1.48

249

35/24/24

+11

1.46

82.2%

165.5

27%

40%

2

3

baddyG

1.31

237

33/24/16

+9

1.38

74.3%

153.7

26%

75%

3

1

Shao

1.12

190

27/19/15

+8

1.42

87.2%

125.8

33%

78%

7

2

ardiis

1.07

240

32/32/5

0

1.00

66.6%

157.7

21%

53%

10

9

SUYGETSU

0.96

194

27/22/10

+5

1.23

79.5%

147.9

34%

33%

1

2

**Jakub “frs” Czapran: Hello Kamil! Since your participation at the 2021 VCT: Europe Stage 1 Masters it has been exactly one year. How do you feel coming back to the competition on the highest European level? **

Kamil “baddyG” Graniczka: Hello! I am very grateful that someone trusted me and I got a chance to show my skills. I didn't get a chance to prove that I never fell off that level, I was always ready. I feel that through a lot of problems with teams and organizations, no one wanted to trust me. Now I have joined as a substitute to one of the best teams in Europe and in every game I try to prove my worth. I am really happy.

**Well yes, you were so close to joining [tea=3492], you were also trialed by EXCEL and Wave Esports, and finally you have been signed by NOM Esports. It was definitely not a project that met your ambitions and expectations. A few disappointing results like not being promoted to VRL - Eastern Europe: Surge - Stage 1 - Main Event and a few weeks later you join FPX. I guess you didn't expect that? **

*- I kept believing that luck would smile on me though, because I think I was just unlucky for a long time. However, I totally did not expect that a team like FPX would make me an offer. I've been playing for inferior teams for a while just to get a chance to perform well and then coaches could pay their attention to me while scouting. *

**Then how did FPX contact you? **

- FPX’s coach, Erik "d00mbr0s" Sandgren texted me to see if I would be willing to help them with practice. At first I thought they only wanted a few games on one day, however I ended up staying for longer.

**How would you describe your role at FPX? You've played in two games so far, where you play as a controller. **

- I play as a controller. I also try to help Andrey "Shao" Kiprsky with leading the game, sometimes I will add some ideas from myself. The atmosphere in the team is great and professional, which made it easier for me to acclimatize to the new environment.

**For the time being you are replacing one of the most experienced players from Europe, which is naturally ANGE1. Did you feel any additional pressure because of that? I guess replacing such a class player is not easy. **

*- I did not feel any additional pressure, because I know I am a good player and I am able to compete on the highest level but of course replacing ANGE1 was hard not only for me but for the rest of the team. They lost their leader and Shao had to take his position and be a leader and captain. Our training games looked really good. I hope that the team is happy with me and I couldn't think of a better team that I could help as a stand-in. * According to DotEsports, ANGE1 got out of Kyiv and is safe today. Can you confirm this information? If so, is he helping you prepare and participating in training? What does it look like?

- From what I’ve heard, ANGE1 has left Kyiv, although I'm not the person who can confirm it. As much as possible, he comes to our practices and we discuss our game plan with him on TeamSpeak. He supports us very much and he can definitely help us in the upcoming match against Natus Vincere and then already in the playoffs.

**Who do you think will advance to the playoffs from your group? A lot of teams still have a chance. **

- I think M3 Champions and Team Liquid.

**Leaving slightly from the FPX topic, but staying with the VCT Challengers. Which team surprised you most negatively and which positively? **

- Unfortunately, Acend is probably the biggest disappointment, as they did not advance to the playoffs after their huge run at VCT 2021 - VALORANT Champions 2021. They are having some problems that I am sure will go through and they will qualify for the next LAN tournament. They have to deal with it. Aleksander "zeek" Zygmunt’s recent announcement also shows that he and the team need some rest. I wish zeek fast and full recovery and I believe that Acend will be back to his optimal form soon. Fnatic was perhaps the most surprising, but the real test will come in the playoffs.

Your next opponent in the VCT Challengers will be NAVI this Thursday. At stake will be the promotion from first place, which I sincerely wish you. Good luck and take care.

- Thank you so much!