BBL Esports Defeat Fnatic 2:1 in VCT 2025: EMEA Stage 2 Playoffs

The VCT 2025: EMEA Stage 2 Playoffs brought fans an intense series between BBL Esports and Fnatic, with the Turkish roster pulling off a comeback victory after dropping the opening map. Let’s take a closer look at how the battle unfolded across three maps.

Map 1 — Corrode (Fnatic’s pick)

Fnatic started the series in dominant fashion. Their aggressive attack, led by Chronicle on Viper and kaajak on Yoru, overwhelmed BBL from the very beginning.

Winning the pistol round and the follow-up force buy gave Fnatic early momentum, allowing them to run away with an 8:4 lead at halftime. kaajak stood out with sharp shooting and relentless entry plays, finishing the map with 25 kills.

BBL had no real answer in the second half, as Fnatic quickly closed the map 13:7. At that point, it seemed like the series could turn into a one-sided affair.

Map 2 — Ascent (BBL’s pick)

Everything changed on Ascent. BBL came alive with a much sharper game plan, starting strong by winning the pistol and controlling the economy from there.

LewN on Jett was unstoppable in early duels, consistently outpacing Fnatic’s defenses with fast peaks and precise shots. While Chronicle tried to keep Fnatic in the game through smart retakes, the team struggled to maintain defensive structure.

The first half ended 7:5 in BBL’s favor. After the switch, PROFEK on Omen proved pivotal, using utility to slow Fnatic’s attacks and buying his team critical time. BBL showed excellent clutch play in key rounds, leaving Fnatic little room to recover.

The Turkish side closed out the map 13:7, leveling the series at 1:1.

Map 3 — Haven (Decider)

The deciding map delivered maximum tension. The first half was a back-and-forth battle, with Fnatic briefly pulling ahead 6:4 thanks to Chronicle’s impact on Viper. However, BBL turned the tide by securing a crucial force buy and went into halftime tied 6:6.

The second half was a rollercoaster. Fnatic tried to regain momentum, but BBL’s resilience shone through. MAGNUM on Cypher came up clutch, including a vital 1v2 defuse that shifted the balance of the match. Jamppi also delivered with impactful flashes and initiations on Breach.

In the final rounds, BBL remained composed, executing clean rotations and controlling space across the map. They sealed the victory 13:9, completing the comeback.

MVPs of the Match

• LewN (BBL, Jett): Dominant performance on Ascent, winning key duels.
• MAGNUM (BBL, Cypher): Clutch plays on Haven, including a decisive 1v2 defuse.

With this win, BBL Esports advance further in the upper bracket of the VCT 2025: EMEA Stage 2 Playoffs, proving their resilience and ability to turn the tide after a rough start. Fnatic, meanwhile, will need to regroup and prepare for the lower bracket challenge.

VCT 2025: EMEA Stage 2 is an S-tier offline tournament organized by Riot Games, held in Berlin from July 16 to August 31, 2025. It features twelve EMEA teams, a Bo3 group stage, and a double-elimination playoff bracket, with the top two teams securing a spot at Valorant Champions 2025 in Paris.