Movistar KOI reportedly eyeing nataNk and Elmapuddy ahead of Stage 2
After an early elimination at the VALORANT Champions Tour 2025 - EMEA Stage 1 before the start of the playoffs, KOI are already looking ahead to Stage 2. It appears the team has been quick to get to work as the Spanish organization aims to add the French Nathan "nataNk" Bocqueho to the squad, according to a report by Luigi İpek.
Meanwhile, the team also look ready to move on from Head Coach Harry "Gorilla" Mepham after a disastrous start to the year, and appear poised to add the former Fnatic man Chris "Elmapuddy" Tebbit as his replacement.
NataNk: A flex master returns to Europe
A player capable of shining across several different roles in the game, nataNk made a splash when he decided to join Leviatán at the end of 2024, leaving EMEA behind for the Americas. Though Leviatán decided to bench the player soon after the conclusion of the VALORANT Champions Tour 2025 - Americas Kickoff, nataNk was able to leave his mark on the region all the same, showcasing his flexibility over the course of the tournament.
Throughout Kickoff, the French player put up respectable stats while constantly adapting to his team's needs: 1.06 rating, 207.1 ACS, 136.9 ADR. Now, Movistar KOI will need nataNk to bring his A-game with him as the player returns to familiar ground ahead of the VCT EMEA Stage 2 2025.
Movistar KOI in need to a jumpstart
The start of the VCT 2025 Season has not been an easy one for Movistar KOI fans. After a quick exit at the VALORANT Champions Tour 2025 - EMEA Kickoff, Stage 1 has not been any kinder to the organization.
The team currently sits in last place of Group Omega at the Stage 1 tournament in EMEA as it holds on to an 0-4 match record. Perhaps the most surprising part, though, is the fact that the team has failed to win even a single map throughout the entire tournament.
If Movistar KOI want to put on a better showing when Stage 2 comes around in July, then a rebuild seems in order. And that's where Elmapuddy comes in.
Having been with Fnatic since 2023, Elmapuddy was let go by the team after failing to lead the squad to the international stage at VALORANT Champions Tour 2025 - Masters Bangkok 2025. Now, Elmapuddy will be eager to prove he still has what it takes to lead a squad at the highest level of competitive VALORANT.
Whether the additions of nataNk and Elmapuddy will prove enough to turn this Movistar KOI ship around remains to be seen. For now, though, the moves seem like a good start for an organization that needs to do all it can to breathe new life into the team ahead of Stage 2.
For all things VCT-related, make sure to stay tuned to THESPIKE.GG as we continue to update you with the freshest game and esports news.
Featured Image Source: Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games
A lover of video games through and through, his passion for games began at an early age when he fell in love The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. After honing his skills with years of practice, Martin competed at a semi-professional level in World of Warcraft, both in PvE and PvP. He now enjoys all things esports, from VALORANT and Counter-Strike to League of Legends and StarCraft II. A writer at heart, Martin majored in English Literature before finding that the best way to combine his two passions was to start writing about video games. Also happens to be a bit of a sucker for stats and traditional sports. Martin currently works as an editor and writer for Strafe Esports, while also writing for TheSpike when he has the chance.
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