Benjyfishy on Heretics' loss to Fire Flux: "We're missing something"

For the first time in the VCT, Challenger teams have joined the battle in Stage 2 for a spot at Champions 2026 in Shanghai. So far, the underdogs have exceeded expectations by taking down several VCT teams in the Play-Ins.

One of those teams is Fire Flux Esports, who have bested not only PCIFIC Esports but also Team Heretics. After the match between Fire Flux and Heretics, THESPIKE spoke to Benjy "benjyfishy" David Fish about what went wrong against the Tier 2 team and the squad's struggles with momentum and consistency.

Closest matchup yet

Team Heretics have either gone 2-0 or 0-2 in their previous matchups, never going to a third map in VALORANT Champions Tour 2026 - EMEA Stage 2. When facing Fire Flux Esports, they had their closest series yet, and the Heretics hype-man benjyfishy was deeply disappointed by the result.

“I think we honestly just played bad. I think especially on Sunset. I always say, if we lose, we always lose to ourselves. And it was the same today. That's not taking anything away from Fire Flux. I think they also played well, but I think the level that we have is higher than theirs, but we just didn't hit it today.”

Fire Flux crushed Heretics on Sunset, stealing their opponents' map pick with a shocking 13-2 score. Heretics came into the map with a brand-new comp, with benjyfishy on Sage for the first time ever in the VCT. However, the new comp was brutally demolished by the Turkish team.

“It was my first Sage. I was really hoping it would be better because I really enjoy Sage. I think, with that comp specifically, we don't have much utility, for example, not double Duelists or something. But with this comp, you need to have very good micro between each other. And I think we were lacking that. I definitely could have done better on the micro because most of the time I'm on, you know, Cypher or Vyse, I'm not really with the group, but with Sage, I'm with the group. I could have definitely tried. I could have had more impact.”

VALORANT Champions Tour 2026 - EMEA Stage 2

Team Heretics

1

X

2

Fire Flux Esports

Upper Bracket Quarter Final, Best of 3 - August 9, 2026 - 3:00PM

13

Summit

9

2

Sunset

13

9

Ascent

13

Team Heretics

player

Rating

ACS

K/D/A

+/-

K/D

KAST

ADR

HS%

FBSR

FB

FD

Boo

0.98

187

40/41/20

-1

0.98

79.1%

119.6

34%

50%

3

3

RieNs

0.90

201

35/40/18

-5

0.88

72.2%

134.3

25%

46%

6

7

Wo0t

0.85

169

36/40/15

-4

0.90

64.9%

112.4

26%

38%

5

8

benjyfishy

0.81

172

37/45/13

-8

0.82

70.0%

115.9

31%

45%

5

6

Koshmaras

0.74

162

33/51/19

-18

0.65

62.4%

114.6

22%

33%

6

12

Fire Flux Esports

player

Rating

ACS

K/D/A

+/-

K/D

KAST

ADR

HS%

FBSR

FB

FD

Kachoww

1.64

325

64/42/18

+22

1.52

82.6%

192.3

33%

46%

6

7

batujnax

1.21

216

43/36/32

+7

1.19

79.6%

141.0

17%

64%

7

4

hezacoil

1.14

207

43/36/21

+7

1.19

78.2%

136.5

37%

58%

7

5

DeadInk

0.92

185

38/36/10

+2

1.06

72.1%

112.5

23%

62%

8

5

REAZY

0.74

128

29/31/16

-2

0.94

79.6%

88.1

21%

60%

6

4

Playing against a tier 2 team

Heretics is not the only team that has lost against a Tier 2 team in the Play-Ins. So far, five Tier 1 teams have been sent down to the lower bracket by Tier 2 teams. Some notable mentions are Fnatic, Gentle Mates, and Natus Vincere, all facing elimination from Stage 2 after losing to the underdogs.

For benjyfishy, it didn't matter what team they were facing on the server. According to him, they would have lost against any team. However, the Tier 2 teams have a hunger for success that makes them dangerous for all other teams in the bracket.

“I think it didn't matter what team we would play against today. I think we would have lost; the level was just way too low. But I think for the other teams, honestly, a lot of these Tier 2 teams, I think they're more hungry than these Tier 1 teams. Especially when they've been kind of playing online for such a long time and now they have the chance to qualify for Champions and play in the VCT. There's so many of these players' first time in VCT, they're super hungry, they're super motivated.”

neilzinho out of commission

Back in June, Neil "neilzinho" Finlay wrote on X that he had to have two surgeries and wouldn't be able to fulfill his head coach role for a bit. For benjyfishy, this made a big difference in the team dynamic, seeing how neilzinho is a big pillar for the organization. He, however, stressed that the loss against Fire Flux was not only a result of Neil being gone.

“I think that's been a problem even with Neil here in the past. So I don't think it's like an issue of not being here, but it does for sure impact us. Like you said, he's a really big part of our team and also a part of our team culture. I think Neil was very good at that. I don't know, he kind of dictates how the team culture is. [...] He's helping a lot from online. So it's not like we don't speak to him; we speak to him every day. I think it is for sure like we're missing something in the team, though.”

THESPIKE: What do you think is missing?

I think it's more down to individuals and, like, individuals to help each other as well. If I think back to, like, 2020 [....] My friends and family, they'll tell me, ‘You guys are like, having so much fun on stage,’ you know? When we're in a bad mindset, it kind of looks like we don't even want to be there. Which, you know, you need to enjoy the moment. You need to enjoy being on stage.”

Contract ending soon

Four out of five Heretics players' contracts are ending in 2026, one of them being benjyfishy's. Martynas "Koshmaras" Namikas is the only one staying until the end of 2028. When asked what benjyfishy thought about his future and whether or not he wants to stay with the team, his answer was clear.

“I think I would love to continue with the guys. I think obviously VCT is changing next year. And so I have no idea what's going to happen. We kind of just got to wait and see. But I mean, I consider this like my family, like my second family because I spend so much time with them. I'm very close with all of them.”

With the loss against Fire Flux, Heretics now have to battle through the lower bracket of the Play-Ins for survival. Their first challenge will be another Tier 1 team, NAVI. They meet on August 13, and only one will be left standing to fight for a spot at Champions 2026.

For more VCT interviews, stay tuned to THESPIKE.GG.

Featured image source: Colin Young Wolff/Riot Games