FF reazy on historic run: “We beat a lot of good teams and proved we’re one of them”

At VALORANT Champions Tour 2026 - EMEA Stage 2, Fire Flux Esports made history after achieving the highest-ever Tier 2 finish across all regions. While securing a top-four finish may feel bittersweet, with the ultimate dream of reaching VALORANT Champions 2026 just out of reach, Kaan "REAZY" Ürpek looks back on the journey with pride.

Thanks to his teammates and the incredible support of the fans, the experience became something truly special and unforgettable. In an interview with THESPIKE following the loss to Team Liquid, the Turkish player opened up about his expectations, emotions, and the experience of the run.

Nothing but pride in his team

Fire Flux would have loved to be one step closer to VALORANT Champions 2026, but reazy isn't completely disappointed with the result. While the loss naturally stings, he remains proud of how far the team made it and is happy with what they accomplished throughout the run.

Losing the game sucks, but it’s not that bad. We had a miracle run, and it could have ended somewhere better. We never give up hope during a match, but we played kind of badly, not like our usual selves, and ended up losing the game.

VALORANT Champions Tour 2026 - EMEA Stage 2

Team Liquid

2

X

0

Fire Flux Esports

Lower Bracket Round 3 of 4, Best of 3 - August 28, 2026 - 4:30PM

13

Haven

10

13

Lotus

10

Team Liquid

player

Rating

ACS

K/D/A

+/-

K/D

KAST

ADR

HS%

FBSR

FB

FD

trexx

1.33

263

42/29/17

+13

1.45

80.4%

170.3

22%

50%

2

2

nAts

1.21

242

38/28/15

+10

1.36

73.9%

151.2

24%

58%

7

5

kamo

0.96

201

30/34/16

-4

0.88

73.9%

139.5

23%

43%

6

8

Kicks

0.92

167

30/29/12

+1

1.03

73.9%

105.8

31%

60%

3

2

purp0

0.77

159

28/29/4

-1

0.97

71.7%

107.9

43%

36%

4

7

Fire Flux Esports

player

Rating

ACS

K/D/A

+/-

K/D

KAST

ADR

HS%

FBSR

FB

FD

REAZY

0.93

198

31/38/15

-7

0.82

71.7%

130.2

33%

33%

3

6

hezacoil

0.92

193

31/31/9

0

1.00

73.9%

125.2

35%

50%

5

5

batujnax

0.89

189

30/31/9

-1

0.97

73.9%

122.6

23%

75%

3

1

Kachoww

0.86

186

30/36/10

-6

0.83

63.0%

128.6

29%

57%

8

6

DeadInk

0.78

160

27/33/3

-6

0.82

58.7%

103.0

18%

56%

5

4

This roster has been together since 2024, representing different organizations before making the jump to Tier 1 with Fire Flux, who acquired the REBORN roster ahead of the tournament. For reazy, there is nothing but pride in what they have accomplished together and in the journey they have shared over the years.

Throughout the year, we played a lot of tournaments. Besides VCT and VCL, we also played off-season tournaments. It was around 10 months of competing, and we worked really hard. We lost matches, we won matches, but throughout it all, I’m very proud of my teammates. They never give up. They always have high motivation and confidence, and we’ve always been very friendly with each other. I think that’s very important when you’re part of a team and competing to win big tournaments.

However, despite the uncertainty surrounding the 2027 circuit and the changes it will bring, he remains confident that the team can come back even stronger.

And honestly, this is just the beginning for us. We have four rookie players, including batujnax, who is a rookie IGL this year, as well as two young superstars who are always improving themselves. The potential is limitless. Everyone has improved so much this year, and I think 2027 is going to be very good for us. We’ll see what happens.

Growing stronger as a player

Fire Flux has a very young roster, and reazy feels like a proud dad watching the younger players give their best on the big stage. While he had his first Tier 1 experience with BBL Esports in 2024, this tournament marked a debut at this level for the rest of the roster.

As the team’s oldest member, reazy believes the young talents bring a fresh perspective to the game while still respecting his experience. Their willingness to learn and improve has allowed him to guide them, creating a strong dynamic between experience and ambition.

I’ve been playing FPS games for around 10 or 12 years, while my teammates are still very young and fresh-minded. They’re open-minded and hungry to improve every day. I’ve been working really hard for the last six or seven years, and they respect my experience and are always willing to learn. They’re really clever players, which is why they keep improving all the time.

Barcelona, however, feels different for the Turkish player, with the crowd bringing a unique energy to the team. Still, no matter where they play, he insists the team will always give their best on stage.

There are so many people here, and it changes everything. We’re traveling, playing in different arenas, and experiencing new environments, but we always motivate each other. No matter how big the stage is, we just focus on the game. We’re five teammates competing against another team. The game is still the same wherever we play. Of course, there are always ups and downs and some anxiety about winning or losing, but we learn from every experience. I think that’s what matters most.

Defying the odds as a Tier 2 roster

Against all odds, Fire Flux secured the best run by a Tier 2 roster across all regions. While reazy admits he can’t speak for the other teams, he believes their success comes from the unique identity of their roster and the distinct approach to VALORANT found in the Turkish scene.

THESPIKE: You were the only Challengers team from around the world to make it this far. What do you think this result says about the talent and potential of Tier 2 players?

reazy: "I can’t speak for every Tier 2 team, but I can speak for us. The game in Turkey is kind of different. Turkish players are hungry to compete and achieve something, so they have a lot of ambition and genuinely love playing the game.

My teammates are the same. They’re always playing VALORANT and are hungry to accomplish something, and I think that has paid off for us. Finishing top four is a very big deal. We beat a lot of good teams and proved that we’re one of them."

THESPIKE: What message would you like to leave for the fans, your teammates, and the organization after everything you’ve experienced this year?

The support has been incredible. Every day, I feel like the noise around us is getting louder, both on social media and in the arena. It’s really appreciated, and it feels amazing to see people cheering for Fire Flux, reazy, Kachoww, batujnax, DeadInk, hezacoil, and the rest of the team, or asking to take photos with us. It shows us that we’re doing something great and that we’re on the right path. It’s honestly spectacular.

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