Boaster sets a new record at VALORANT Champions 2025 as FNC and TH progress

Two more winners’ matches in VALORANT Champions 2025 delivered playoff certainties today, with Heretics and Fnatic stamping their tickets. Team Heretics defeated T1 2-0, and Fnatic took down MIBR 2-1. These wins not only push them into the Playoffs but also reinforce who’s in form. Here’s how each map played out, who shone, and what it all means.

Team Heretics lock third VALORANT Champions playoff spot

Team Heretics faced T1 with everything on the line in group D’s winners’ match, having already upset G2 earlier to get there. They banned Abyss, while T1 banned Haven. Heretics picked Lotus, T1 chose Sunset. The match was clean: Heretics closed out both maps and advanced without needing a decider.

Lotus: Heretics win 13-10

The first half was tight, with Heretics taking a slight edge on defense, before going into halftime with the score 8-4 in their favor. T1 mounted pressure in the second half, but Heretics won key attacking rounds, especially post-plant situations.

Wo0t on Chamber dominated on Lotus with an ACS of 277, recording 23 kills, 14 deaths and 7 first kills. He made multiple opening plays that shifted momentum back to Heretics in rounds where T1 seemed to be mounting comebacks.

Sunset: Heretics win 13-11

Sunset was even more competitive. After halftime, the score was tied, but T1 surged back to threaten the lead several times. The final rounds were nail-biting, with the score at 11-11 before Heretics won the next two rounds to claim the series 2-0 and qualify for the playoffs.

Meteor turned in a standout performance, despite the loss. He posted 292 ACS, 24 kills, 17 deaths, and 6 first kills on Sunset. He often opened rounds or won duels that kept T1 in contention, though Heretics just edged ahead in the tight closing rounds.

RieNs takes the MVP for the series. Although Wo0t and Meteor had big maps, RieNs’ consistency across both Lotus and Sunset — especially his utility decisions, clutch rotational work, and reliable clarity in mid-round situations — made him the backbone of Heretics’ sweep and locked in their playoff qualification despite Wo0t having slightly higher stats.

Boaster a record setter against MIBR

In group B’s winners’ matchup, MIBR and Fnatic fought hard, with the latter eventually winning the series 2-1 and claiming a playoff berth. The vetoes saw FNC ban Sunset, and MIBR ban Lotus. Fnatic picked Bind, MIBR responded with Abyss, and Haven was the final map.

Bind: MIBR win 13-5

The match opened with Bind, and MIBR came out strong. Their attacking halves were efficient; defensive rounds were well controlled — at the half, they had built a 7-5 lead. MIBR dominated on defense, not dropping a single round, and FNC never really found a counter.

Aspas stood out on the map, with aggressive entries, a 4-0 first kill stat, and an ACS of 267 — well above match average.

Abyss: Fnatic win 13-7

Fnatic bounced back on their opponent’s pick, Abyss. They used coordinated utility and catch-plays to disrupt MIBR’s prep. The half was close at 7-5 in MIBR’s favor, but FNC built a steady lead into the second period. Key rounds in long sightlines and post-plant fights gave them the upper hand, and they closed 13-7.

Alfajer carried many of these rounds. His high kill counts, lurks, and incredible defense made map two his.

Haven: Fnatic win 13-10

The decider, Haven, lived up to its status as a swing map. At halftime, it was 8-4 in FNC’s favor on defense, and their attack after the switch included a couple of rounds where clutch performance from the likes of Boaster and others tipped the balance. MIBR had opportunities and came close to closing the gap, but Fnatic closed out in the late rounds, ending the game thanks to a 1v3 clutch from Chronicle.

Kaajak was the highlight in the decider. His entries on attack, 6 first kills, and pressure from his Yoru made him the deciding factor in the map and hence the match.

Aspas might have by far had the best stats, but for FNC, crashies picks up the overall series MVP. His performances spanned all three maps, particularly shining in terms of util usage and trades. His consistency and ability to step up in pressure moments sealed Fnatic’s playoff qualification.

In reaching the final next stage of the competition, Boaster becomes the only player to have reached the playoffs in every iteration of VALORANT Champions, having done so with Fnatic every year since Champs’ inception in 2021

Elimination looming

With Heretics and Fnatic now qualified for the Champs playoffs, they will join PRX and NRG in the final eight. The upcoming elimination matches are between Team Liquid and EDward Gaming, Xi Lai Gaming and Sentinels, Bilibili Gaming and Rex Regum Qeon, and G2 Esports and Dragon Ranger Gaming.

The stakes couldn’t be higher — losing teams will be knocked out of Champions 2025, while the winners will make playoffs. Every round is now do-or-die for them, while the already qualified squads get to rest and prepare.