Alfajer: “I think we are the best team in the world… there is no one can stay [in] front of us. We can just beat everyone.” – VCT EMEA Stage 2 Interview

FNATIC, one of EMEA’s most storied and successful teams, has been having a good enough year, with a second-place finish at both Masters Toronto and EWC after a slow start during Kickoff. But it’s not the result they expect from themselves, especially with the caliber of players on the roster. Through player and coach shuffles, the current roster has proven themselves resilient and a force to reckon against, having a perfect 3-0 record in their VCT EMEA Stage 2 group after yesterday’s win versus NAVI. Hotspawn spoke with FNATIC’s wonderkid Emir Ali “Alfajer” Beder after their win.

Hotspawn: It’s been quite a few years for you on Fnatic since you’ve joined, you came in as the rookie for this team and now, you’re one of the veterans.

These years on Fnatic, what would you say are the two things that you’ve learned the most?

Alfajer: Friendship, and I think that’s the only thing to be honest, friendship.

Who would you say is your best friend?

Boaster.

Talking about these transitions with this team you’ve seen. How has it been with Leo, then crashies?

How has it been playing with two different initiator players?

I mean, crashies is a really nice guy. He’s also playing really good and he is a really good friend so he adapted quick, and I’m happy that he is here and I’m happy that [we] have him. So I don’t feel that much different. It’s just I’m happy.

This year started off a little bit rough for you. Kickoff didn’t go the way you wanted, but after, you made it all the way to the final of two events.

So what would you say was the biggest difference between the two stages in terms of preparation for your team and for you?

Alright, it was [the] start of the year and kaajak had no confidence and crashies was new, as like a new experience to play in EU, and that’s why we were not ready. And difference between Stage 1 and Stage 2, the first thing is coach changes because it was Elmapuddy in Stage 1. He used to be head coach and we changed the coach. Milan is head coach right now, and we have Scutt. And I think they are pretty good and they’re just helping us a lot. I think the biggest change between Stage 1 and 2, I think it’s the coaches.

Okay, what would you say are the biggest differences in coaching style? Like what works for you in particular?

I think when you have a coach, when you can make a conversation about comps and stuff, I think it’s easy to play. And when you can’t make a conversation about comps and stuff, and if the coach is saying: “You have to play this because I’m telling you to play this”, that’s not working on us. I think you need to be able to make a conversation with your coach to what to play. Then I think it works more.

Last year you won the best sentinel of the region award for EMEA. Now we’re seeing you adapt a little bit more with your Tejo on Bind, and your incredible performance today.

So what is between you trying out these different agents, and if we’re going to be seeing more of those, how does it feel for you to play it?

I think I’m not going to play like Breach/Sova/Fade or stuff. But I mean, I’m playing Tejo because Tejo the agent is not like an initiator. You have to kind of shoot, and I think I can shoot with Tejo as well. So that’s why I do like playing Tejo, and I’m good with Tejo. But I don’t think you guys [are] going to see me in different agents and stuff. It’s just going to be basic I think.

Very important question here.

What’s your routine Alfa? What makes you such a beast?

I mean, to be honest, I don’t have a routine right now. Normally I would have a routine but this year especially I don’t have a routine. What I’m doing right now, I think, everyone has to do that, like if you are in high level, I’m just saying for high-level well around players. But if you are [a] tier two player, you got to play the game a lot. But if you are [a] tier one player and you want to know the routine, I think if you want to play VALORANT, play VALORANT.

But don’t force yourself to play VALORANT, because you’re going to get mentally boomed.

In terms of clutches, you’re one of Fnatic’s most successful players, you’re just ice cold in the clutch.

So how do you stay calm in that situation?

I mean, I just have too much experience. I’m not doing anything extra, I can just stay calm in the clutches. If it’s not like a final of the Masters or Champions, I can always stay calm, I think.

I think to be fair, even in the Masters finals, you were still playing insanely well. I’m guessing your goal for Champions is to obviously win the whole thing.

Who do you think are your biggest opponents in the road to that?

To be honest, I don’t see any one opponent. No, I think we are the best team. We are the best team in the world right now. We just couldn’t show twice and we had [the] chance to show twice. That’s why we’ve said [it]. We are not a team who is egoist, but I think we are the best team in the world and if you feel in the day, I think there is no one can stay [in] front of us. We can just beat everyone.

Your thoughts about Corrode, the new map?

I think it’s a pretty good map. Maybe we’re going to play at Champs, or not, no one knows. But I think even if you play Corrode, our Corrode is good.

Okay, so some random fun questions before we wrap up.

What’s your favorite meal to have?

If it’s Turkish, it’s called sarma. It’s Turkish food. They call [it] yaprak sarma. But if it’s not, I will say kebab. Yeah, or actually malaban. It’s called malatang with Chinese food. So when you go get your bowl and you can put whatever you want and they make a sauce and they just give you back. You can choose soup or there’s one peanut butter sauce. Oh, that peanut butter is so good. Malaban is so good.

The meta has changed a lot this year with the Tejo being so powerful during the beginning of the year and then getting nerfed into oblivion. And I think over the years you’ve seen a lot of patches change.

So, how do you keep up with the meta?

Do you find it from playing games? You find it from discussing things?

I mean, I think the meta is perfect because they’re always changing it. They’re adding a new [agent] who changed the whole game. I think it’s really nice from Riot. I mean, most coaches and most teams don’t like [it] because they have to change everything. But I think I do like it because when the meta is changed, I enjoy the game more. It’s just me though. When the change is happening, I’m enjoying the game more.

What is the VALORANT agent you like the most and what is the VALORANT agent that you hate?

You hate playing, you hate seeing it and ranked?

The one I most like is going to be, I think, Neon.

I don’t want to play against Iso. But I think the one I don’t want to play, it’s going to be Harbor. Harbor is…

Last question.

What’s your favorite map and most hated map of all the maps in the pool?

My favourite map is Ascent currently. And the worst map I don’t like is Icebox.

Hotspawn: Thank you so much for your time and I hope you had a little bit of fun in the interview. Congratulations again on your win today.