"Trust us that we are not going to throw that final this time"- Alfajer on Fnatic's qualification to Champions Paris playoffs

A battle that came down to the wire between Fnatic and MIBR saw Fnatic emerge victorious, punching their ticket to their fifth consecutive playoffs stage at VALORANT Champions Tour 2025 - Valorant Champions. Following their 2-1 victory, Emir "Alfajer" Ali Beder spoke to Adrian from THESPIKE about owning up to his "Paris Final Boss" title, clashing gamestyles with South America, and what the team is doing differently to secure the trophy this time.

THESPIKE: What are your initial thoughts fresh off that win just now?

Alfajer: I think it was a really good match, but I think we threw on Bind. I think we could have have won Bind so easily, yet we were a bit stressed which I'm not sure why. On the second map, we just came back, but on the third map when we were up 10-4, we just started throwing some rounds. We got too excited to win, I think. Other than that, I think everything was fine. It was the one of the greatest match I ever played this year, to be honest.

THESPIKE: Speaking of getting too excited, this is reminding me of VCT 2023 - LOCK//IN after your 1v2 against LOUD on Icebox. It was really exciting until Nikita "Derke" Sirmitev told everyone to chill. Was there a similar protocol being implemented here? Are you guys trying not to be that overexcited and who's leading that?

Alfajer: Yeah, every time the round starts we all try to calm down and let Jake "Boaster" Howlett and Austin "crashies" Roberts talk because it's really important to give us the calls. So, whenever a round ends we get hyped, and then when the round starts, we just need to shut up and listen to them.

THESPIKE: You mentioned that this was one of the greatest matches you played this year, and especially so because you beaten Erick "aspas" Santos, the "final boss." As the self-proclaimed "Paris Final Boss," do you have anything to say to that or do you have anything to say to him?

Alfajer: I mean aspas is a really great player and it showed today because he was top fragging and was the best player in the server. To be honest, when I put that name, I had no expectations. I just put Paris Final Boss for fun. But Brazilian fans motivated me because I'm getting messages every day that I'm not a final boss. That's why I'm getting more motivated. Guys, you should stop messaging me.

VALORANT Champions Tour 2025 - Valorant Champions

MIBR

1

X

2

Fnatic

Group B - Winners Match, Best of 3 - September 18, 2025 - 3:30PM

13

Bind

5

7

Abyss

13

10

Haven

13

MIBR

player

Rating

ACS

K/D/A

+/-

K/D

KAST

ADR

HS%

FBSR

FB

FD

aspas

1.20

245

54/43/7

+11

1.26

77.8%

159.0

22%

68%

13

6

Verno

0.96

190

37/40/21

-3

0.93

77.8%

115.0

25%

43%

3

4

artzin

0.91

193

39/40/18

-1

0.98

65.7%

120.4

27%

29%

5

12

xenom

0.90

163

35/41/25

-6

0.85

74.1%

102.0

22%

63%

5

3

cortezia

0.81

163

37/40/8

-3

0.93

67.9%

104.5

34%

33%

3

6

Fnatic

player

Rating

ACS

K/D/A

+/-

K/D

KAST

ADR

HS%

FBSR

FB

FD

crashies

1.00

216

43/41/21

+2

1.05

73.1%

143.8

33%

56%

5

4

kaajak

1.00

202

47/41/9

+6

1.15

61.7%

129.8

34%

73%

11

4

Alfajer

0.98

210

47/42/7

+5

1.12

70.6%

140.7

36%

50%

7

7

Chronicle

0.86

171

35/40/18

-5

0.88

76.8%

123.3

27%

63%

5

3

Boaster

0.65

134

26/38/25

-12

0.68

64.3%

96.8

23%

21%

3

11

THESPIKE: The last time you played against aspas was back in VCT 2023 - Champions, where you guys lost in pretty sad fashion, so it must feel great to finally beat him.

Alfajer: Yeah, I'm pretty happy overall, not because of aspas, but we beat MIBR and made playoffs. I'm happy because of that. But, MIBR are a really good team. I think they're going to make playoffs as well. I just hope we won't play against them in playoffs because their game style is opposite to us, which made them the hardest team to play against in this tournament probably.

THESPIKE: What's so opposite about their playstyle compared to yours?

Alfajer: Historically, whenever we play against South America, it's been always hard. I don't know why but their game style is not suitable for us. Against NA, EMEA, China or Asia, it's always easier to play against, but whenever we play against South America, we always struggle a little bit. If you guys remember in 22 against Leviatán when Enzo "Enzo" Mestari was like doing "pros never fake": the game we played just now reminded me of that match.

THESPIKE: You've been pretty close to winning the past two tournaments. What are you guys doing differently this time that now that you've made playoffs to secure the trophy?

Alfajer: I mean, we learned from our mistakes, and we are ready to win every game and we are even more ready to get the trophy. If we somehow make the final, you can just trust us that we are not going to throw that final this time. The harder thing is getting there, so let's get there and you'll see.

THESPIKE: Thank you for your time Alfajer. Best of luck on your playoffs run.

Stay updated about Fnatic's Champions run and the rest of the playoffs at THESPIKE.GG.