NaVi signs chippy as Assistant Coach ahead of VCT EMEA Stage 1

Natus Vincere has officially announced Dmytro "Chippy" Bychenko as the new assistant coach for its VALORANT roster. The 23-year-old Ukrainian, who has previously coached B8 Esports and ESC Gaming , will take on the role starting VCT 2025 - EMEA Stage 1.

Expressing his gratitude for the opportunity, chippy stated:

"I am very grateful to the NAVI team and club for the opportunity to prove myself. I will do all I can to help the roster achieve its goals."

His addition marks another significant step in NaVi’s rebuilding process, as the organization continues to fine-tune its structure to compete with the best teams in EMEA.

Chippy will be replacing Erik "Erik" Sandgren, who parted ways with the team just last month.

A Necessary Move Amid a Challenging Period

Although this signing was announced just one day before the start of VCT EMEA Stage 1, it is highly unlikely that chippy is entering the team completely fresh. Given the timing of his official announcement, there is reason to believe he has already been working with the roster behind the scenes during contract negotiations.

The move itself is not surprising, considering NaVi’s struggles earlier in the season. After a disastrous performance in VCT 2025 - EMEA Kickoff, where the team finished in last place, it became evident that changes were necessary. This result came as a major shock, especially after NaVi made significant roster adjustments in the offseason, including replacing their head coach and three key players.

The expectation was that these changes would strengthen the team, but the opposite happened—NaVi failed to meet expectations and looked disorganized in their performances. With VCT EMEA Stage 1 about to begin, bolstering the coaching staff appears to be an effort to stabilize and refine the team’s approach.

NaVi’s Current VALORANT Roster

With chippy stepping in as assistant coach, NaVi’s current roster heading into VCT EMEA Stage 1 is:

• Kirill "ANGE1" Karasiow
• Emirhan "hiro" Kat
• Uğur "Ruxic" Güç
• GianFranco "koalanoob" Potestio
• Andrey "Shao" Kiprsky

• Vincent "Happy" Cervoni – Head Coach

• Dmytro "Chippy" Bychenko – Assistant Coach

While Happy remains the head coach, the addition of chippy could help bridge the gap between the coaching staff and the players, providing new strategies and perspectives to enhance team performance.

With chippy’s arrival, NaVi is signaling that they believe in their current roster but need additional strategic direction to improve results. Instead of making more drastic player changes, they are focusing on coaching adjustments to maximize the potential of their lineup.

A Critical First Test Against Fnatic

NaVi’s first test with this updated coaching staff will come against none other than Fnatic—the team that eliminated them from EMEA Kickoff. This matchup, scheduled for March 28 at 5 PM CET, will serve as a litmus test to determine whether NaVi’s adjustments are paying off.

Given their previous struggles, a strong showing against Fnatic would send a message to the rest of EMEA that NaVi is still a serious contender. On the other hand, another poor performance could raise further concerns about the team’s long-term viability at the top level.

Whether this move will be enough to revive NaVi’s fortunes remains to be seen, but one thing is certain—the team cannot afford another early exit.

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Featured Image Source: Wojciech Wandzel/Riot Games