“It’s not my fault” - Veqaj responds to the hate after joining Fnatic

As we pass the halfway mark of VALORANT Champions Tour 2026 - EMEA Kickoff, more high-stakes matchups between big fan favorites continue to entertain the crowd. One of Wednesday’s matches featured Fnatic against Natus Vincere, two teams that underwent roster changes in the offseason. The bout did not disappoint, as Fnatic took down NAVI in a match of comebacks and clutches.

After the match, THESPIKE.GG had the honor of talking to Fnatic’s new flex player, Sylvain "Veqaj" Pattyn, about joining Fnatic, the backlash that followed, and his new role on Viper.

First knife kill and Jett appearance in the VCT

After a slow start to Kickoff with a loss against BBL Esports, Fnatic has built momentum by taking down FUT Esports, Team Liquid, and now NAVI. The match against NAVI quickly turned stressful for Fnatic as their rivals put up a strong fight. The Bo3 offered several new looks from Fnatic. For the first time ever in the VCT, Veqaj secured a knife kill, and fans also got to see him play Jett on Breeze.

Yeah, I played Jett for the first time in VCT. We just checked our first comp, it didn't work at all to be honest, in the first official against BBL. So we wanted to change and have some fresh air, let's say. It didn't work today, but it can work for the future. If we keep this comp or not, but I cannot leak it.

Filling the shoes of Chronicle

Veqaj joined Fnatic in November 2025, a few months after Timofey "Chronicle" Khromov said goodbye to the organization following three years on the roster. The opportunity to play for Fnatic was a once-in-a-lifetime moment for Veqaj, and one he doesn’t want to waste.

I'm going to give everything I can and maybe win some international trophies with them. I know last year it was really hard for them to be top second, top second, top second. And I want to be the last piece of the puzzle to just have a trophy.

Taking over after Chronicle would be nerve-racking for anyone, but not for Veqaj. For him, it doesn’t matter who was on the team before, only the future and his own performance matters.

Dealing with Upset fans

The transition to Fnatic wasn’t entirely smooth, however. Since Chronicle was a core part of Fnatic for so long, many members of the team’s large fanbase were upset after his departure. Chronicle’s legacy left a hole that was difficult to fill, and when Veqaj joined the squad, he was met with a lot of hate from frustrated fans.

There is always some hate and I'm never taking a look at that. Like, it is not my fault I'm on Fnatic right now. He just left to go to Vitality. So I don't mind. They can say whatever they want. I know Chronicle was a big piece of Fnatic before me. And I have a lot of respect for this player, he is one of the best players in the world.

Mastering Viper

Despite the backlash surrounding the roster move, the vibes within the team remained strong. Veqaj quickly found his place alongside Austin "crashies" Roberts’s, Kajetan "kaajak" Haremski’s, and Emir "Alfajer" Beder’s explosive plays. He has also grown more comfortable in his role on Viper—an Agent he did not play on his previous team of Gentle Mates. His development as a Controller was on full display against NAVI, where he topped the scoreboard in both maps where he played Viper.

Two months ago it wasn't like this with Viper. I have good coaches and staff, I have Boaster behind me every time and day to teach me how to play Viper. And now I'm feeling comfortable and can make some individual decisions.

For Veqaj, Viper will always be a key part of a composition, no matter how many nerfs Riot Games introduces. Even if Viper is nerfed again, Veqaj has no doubts that Fnatic can adapt their comps, and he feels flexible enough to play any Agent.

Rooting for Gentle Mates

Last year, Veqaj played for Gentle Mates, who struggled throughout the 2025 season. The biggest difference for him, switching from Gentle Mates to Fnatic, was the gap in overall skill level.

I just swapped from bottom tier 1 to top tier 1 and I can feel the difference inside the game and outside the game.

However, 2026 has been a very different story for Gentle Mates. Only Patrik "Minny" Hušek remains from the old roster, and the team has emerged as one of the top contenders at EMEA Kickoff. They have won all of their matches so far and now have three chances to qualify for VALORANT Champions Tour 2026 - Masters Santiago 2026. Veqaj is proud of his former organization and hopes they can make it to their first-ever international VCT event. He also wants to face his old teammate on the server himself.

Of course I want to face them. I want to face Minny, it's going to be a fun match.

For more interviews with your favorite players across all regions, stay tuned to THESPIKE.GG.

Featured image source: Wojciech Wandzel/Riot Games.