Fnatic’s two-time Masters winner Leo “Leo” Jannesson is leaving the organisation and stepping back from VALORANT. The player had been inactive due to illness since June of last year and leaves the organisation three years after signing.
The Swedish initiator’s departure from Fnatic was confirmed by the team in a tribute video, featuring highlights during his time with the organisation and comments from former teammate and IGL Jake “Boaster” Howlett and former head coach Jacob “mini” Harris, as well as Leo himself.
The accompanying statement from Fnatic played down a potential return to pro play, explaining that Leo will be stepping away from VALORANT ‘for now’, and that the team is ‘incredibly proud’ that his career was spent in Black and Orange.
With his contract due to expire at the end of this season, speculation had already begun as to Leo’s future, as has been the case each off-season since his hiatus started in 2024.
Leo had initially stepped down from Fnatic’s active roster due to illness ahead of Stage 2 last year, then replaced hiro as a temporary sub. This season, crashies was signed to fill that gap as Leo’s recovery continued.
While appearing on stream with Patiphan “CigaretteS” Posri last year, Boaster explained how long COVID had caused Leo’s absence, with the player experiencing constant bouts of extreme tiredness and dizziness when playing.
Though his career may now have been unfairly cut short, the Swede’s legacy in VALORANT cannot be argued.
A rare two-time global champion, Leo won both LOCK//IN São Paulo and Masters Tokyo in 2023 as a crucial part of what is seen as one of the game’s best-ever lineups. He was recognised as tournament MVP in São Paulo and the Initiator of the Year in EMEA that season.
His mixture of game sense and raw mechanics continues to be praised, with mini stating that Leo had “set the standard” of how the game should be played.
“Truly depressing.
“Leo set the standards for how great VALORANT should be played and most still don’t come close.”
Fnatic’s team director Colin “CoJo” Johnson revealed how Leo was a dream signing for him and mini, and that they felt the side “could win anything” with his involvement.
“As Mini always said – he was as close to a perfect player we had ever seen. Leo was a great teammate, leader, player and person and he will be sorely missed by both his teammates and the community as a whole. Life is cruel sometimes – and this is one of those times.”
Boaster also paid tribute, saying he was proud to have been Leo’s IGL and teammate.
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