FNS announces his retirement from competitive VALORANT: A legend departs

Today marks the departure of one of the most historic in-game leaders in the North American VALORANT scene, as Pujan "FNS" Mehta has officially announced his retirement from competitive play. After five years performing at the top level, the Canadian player now exits the scene as a legend and former champion of the game despite a rocky final season with NRG.

Saying Goodbye to a Legend

When FNS entered the competitive VALORANT scene in 2020, it didn’t take him long to establish himself as a tactical authority of the game. Putting the full extent of his leadership capabilities to work, FNS made a name for himself as one of the best in-game leaders the scene from very early on.

Along with other eventual legends of the game such as Victor "Victor" Wong, Austin "crashies" Roberts, and Jaccob "yay" Whiteaker, FNS would lead Team Envy to a second place finish at what was only the second Masters event in the history of the game, the VCT 2021 - Stage 3 - Masters Berlin - Playoffs. This, however, was only the beginning, as FNS would get his hands on the gold the following year at the VCT 2022 - Stage 1 - Masters Reykjavík with the very same squad, this time under OpTic Gaming.

Over the years, FNS would form one of the most fearsome trios in VALORANT next to Victor and crashies, with spells together on all of Team EnVy, OpTic Gaming, and NRG.

FNS’ list of VALORANT accomplishments include:

• VCT 2021 - Stage 3 - Masters Berlin - Playoffs: Runner-up
• VCT 2022 - Stage 1 - Masters Reykjavík: Champion
• VCT 2022 - Champions Istanbul: Runner-up
• VCT 2023 - Americas League: Runner-up

A rough spell with NRG

Despite all of his undeniable achievements, FNS went through a difficult patch with NRG towards the end of his career. Though the team wasn't able to come away with a single VCT trophy, NRG managed to remain competitive within the Americas after picking up the former OpTic core near the end of 2022, but that would all change soon.

After FNS took a step back from competitive VALORANT in 2023, NRG were forced to bring their leader back half way through the 2024 VCT Season in hopes that the veteran player would be able to breathe life into the team once more following a set of disappointing finishes in the Americas.

The new year was just more of the same for NRG, however, culminating in the team's early elimination at the VCT 2025 - Americas Stage 1, meaning a missed chance to attend the upcoming VCT 2025 - Masters Toronto 2025. For FNS, it appears this was the straw that broke the camel's back.

I haven't had this thought in my entire career, but this is the first time I went home and I had the thought: "I don't wanna play anymore."

End of the road

Although not the ending he would have wished for, FNS will forever be remembered as a legend of the game, and one of the greatest in-game leaders to ever do it. The 33 year old player's accomplishments, along with his eagerness to share poignant insights on stream, as well as his notorious watchparties, have earned FNS a lasting spot in VALORANT's history.

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Featured Image Source: Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games