“We didn’t play like ourselves” - RRQ Jemkin reflects on Masters Toronto exit
Rex Regum Qeon has been eliminated from VALORANT Champions Tour 2025 - Masters Toronto 2025 following a 2-1 loss to EMEA giants Fnatic in the lower bracket. Despite flashes of brilliance, the Pacific top seed couldn’t overcome the experience and adaptability of their opponents. With this loss, RRQ exits the tournament winless, while Fnatic moves forward to fight another day in the lower bracket.
Following the game, we had a chance to talk to star duelist Maxim "Jemkin" Batorov and get his thoughts on the series.
Struggles on the Big Stage
For RRQ, the series was a tale of nerves and missed opportunities. After an unsteady start on the opening map and a disjointed performance on the decider, Jemkin didn’t shy away from taking accountability.
“The first and third map we played really poorly. It’s way different compared to how we usually play. Maybe it’s just the first tournament - we were a little shaky... We didn’t play like ourselves”
RRQ couldn’t replicate their regional form on the international stage. The pressure of their first Masters appearance clearly weighed on the roster, leading to a performance that fell short of their usual standard.
A Bright Spot on Haven
RRQ’s brightest moment in the series came on their map pick, Haven, where they looked far more confident and in sync. A pair of clever smoke defuses stood out—unplanned but perfectly executed in the heat of the moment.
“We don’t practice it, it just happened in the moment. We just put the smoke on the spike and everyone else tried to distract. It was a little bit lucky.”
These improvised plays highlighted the team’s quick thinking and natural chemistry. However, despite flashes of brilliance, it wasn’t enough to overcome Fnatic’s poise and experience, which ultimately proved decisive as the series progressed.
Fnatic’s Surprise Composition Proves Decisive
The third map, Ascent, saw Fnatic debut an unexpected composition featuring Chamber and Vyse, an unorthodox pick that caught RRQ completely off guard.
“We never thought they were going to play Vyse-Chamber. We tried to talk about what we could do, what the weaknesses were… but it didn’t go how we thought.”
Fnatic's creativity, combined with Boaster’s renowned leadership, proved too much for the inexperienced RRQ roster to handle.
A Valuable Learning Experience
Despite the early exit, Jemkin views RRQ’s debut at Masters Toronto as a vital learning experience rather than a disappointment. For a young and relatively inexperienced roster, the pressure of performing on the international stage was always going to be a challenge.
The lack of group stage matches before heading straight into playoffs may have amplified those difficulties, denying the team valuable warm-up time to adjust to the high-stakes environment.
“I think it would be better for the more experienced team. For a newer team like us, it would’ve been nicer to start from groups.”
Pacific’s Rising Star Remains Humble
Jemkin has become one of the standout names in the Pacific scene heading into Stage 2. Often compared to stars like Kim "t3xture" Na-ra and Jason "f0rsakeN" Susanto, his rise has been swift. Still, he remains grounded, recognizing that experience and consistency will be key to proving himself on the international stage.
“All of them are more experienced than me… For me, it’s my first time [on this stage]. I mean, we’ll see how it goes.”
With RRQ’s journey in Toronto coming to an end, Jemkin has thrown his support behind Fnatic for the remainder of the tournament. His backing isn’t driven by rivalry or redemption, but rather by admiration for the personalities on the Fnatic roster. It’s a gesture of respect from a rising talent to a seasoned squad.
Watch our full interview with jemkin below:
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Featured Image Source: Stefan Wisnoski/Riot Games
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