PaTiTek: “I’m kind of repaying my debt to [Heretics] by winning and letting them qualify” – VCT EMEA Stage 2 Interview

Team Liquid secured their spot at VALORANT Champions with a thrilling VCT EMEA Stage 2 playoffs win against BBL, and for Patryk “paTiTek” Fabrowski, the moment felt like the culmination of years of grinding, setbacks, and second chances. From League of Legends to Counter-Strike to Valorant, tier two to VCT, his path to the top has been anything but straightforward.

Hotspawn sat down with paTiTek to talk about his beginnings as a competitor, his time as a sixth man on Heretics, the lessons he carried into Liquid, and what it means to repay opportunities with results.

Hotspawn: You’ve had a very long Valorant journey.

But before we talk about that, did you always want to be a professional player?

paTiTek: “Yeah, actually, I think since I was, I think around 12 or 13, I realised I want to play games competitively, but I didn’t know that at the time that there was actual games to be played competitively. I was just playing League and I was just trying to be the best grinding.

“And I think later down the road CS came, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, then I started playing that and I realised that I’m actually quite good at the game. And then I just went pro, you know.”

Hotspawn: And when Valorant came out, did you immediately switch from CS?

paTiTek: “Yeah, I immediately switched because I had a situation in Counter Strike, where I was banned from competitive tournaments, you know, because I was VAC banned in CS.

“So when I saw Valorant coming out, I was like, okay, that’s my second chance of being a pro because I got shut down in CS, so I’m gonna try my best at a different game. I got a good background, good, like, already developed skills, so I just had to transfer that from Counter-Strike to Valorant.

“And it took me some time to get to the top. But yeah, I’m just glad that hard work pays off, you know.”

Hotspawn: I remember you were playing for some tier two teams, and then after that you joined Heretics as their sixth man.

How did you prepare for that role?

paTiTek: “I think the full process, me coming to Heretics was basically me being integrated as the fifth player. I mean, being the sixth player, but being the fifth player for the time being, which was I think around six months.

“So I basically had to move to Berlin to live in the Heretics gaming house, live with the boys and just practise every day – 10, 11 hours a day, six days a week, hard practise. Drilling like strats, learning about myself and learning about them.

“Because coming from tier two into a well-developed tier one team, there’s a huge jump, and I think adapting is the most important part of joining a roster like that. I had problems at the beginning, especially playing on stage, with confidence, but I think I found a middle ground and a way to approach games in a calm manner, especially here in Liquid.

“Basically, answering your question, it’s just grinding the game with the boys, practising as a fifth player with them and just hoping for the best.”

Hotspawn: What are the biggest changes you think you made from Kickoff to Stage 1 to Stage 2 as a team?

paTiTek: “I think bringing Nikita, trexx, kind of pushed us to reach higher heights. I would say the higher ceiling.

“Because I think with previous rosters, like with Kamyk and with Serial, I think there was a huge lack of experience coming from both of them. And we were always lacking that fifth player, like that missing piece.

“I think with Nikita, with trexx, I think we got it because we got a player which is super experienced. He can call, he can micromanage, and he can show up when needed. So we have a team basically complete of individuals that are playing together for one goal, which is to win Stage 2 and then Champions.

“But I think the change from Serial to trexx was the final push of us reaching higher levels. Obviously it took some time as well, implementing him into the team. And it’s also new for us because we’re learning how he works and how he’s reacting inside of the game and outside of the game. It’s also new for him.

“So it kind of took us some time to find the middle ground, find the same language, let’s say, inside of the game. But I think we’re getting better at it each day, each week, each game. And yeah, we’re just pushing to the top.

“I think we’ve had enough of grand finals or very close runs that we couldn’t manage to close out. I think this is the time where we start doing it.”

Hotspawn: Today’s game was wild to watch.

How was it for you on stage? And what was the atmosphere like before and after that ace?

paTiTek: “That’s kind of what I wanted. I mean, I think everyone was just locked in. We’re trying to minimise the mistakes that we are already doing — a lot of them before that round.

“But yeah, from my point of view, in-game I’m watching Short on Bind and my captain just kills everyone, you know. So I think that just gives us confidence to push through and to win the game.

“But yeah, he stepped up big time and he just locked in in a way that I think every one of us could be doing that, but not in that moment especially. So I’m glad he stepped up and yeah, he basically won us the Bind because we were just getting eco’d so many times. So many mistakes, so many micro mistakes that could have cost us the game.

“And I think it should have. I don’t think we should be winning this game, honestly. But that just also shows that we have a team that is really resilient and can step up to the occasion when it’s shown.”

Hotspawn: How does it feel that your win also sends Heretics to VALORANT Champions?

paTiTek: “Yeah, it makes me happy because in some way, like back in 2023 when I got the message from Neil (neilzinho) at the end of the year, like at the beginning of 2024 when I joined Heretics as the sixth, he kind of saved me in a way that he gave me opportunity that I would not be getting any other way at the time.

“So I think I’m kind of repaying my debt to them by winning the game and letting them qualify through us winning. Because in a way, they gave me a chance to show myself on international levels, on stage, to then later get signed by Liquid because of them, because of playing in that team.

“So it feels nice to give something back to them. If it wasn’t for the Shanghai final, then I think this is the perfect example of me giving something back to them.”

Hotspawn: Who do you think is the team you’re most worried about at Champs?

paTiTek: “I don’t think there is, but I think for me personally, I just want to play PRX again. I think I got eliminated both of the times on Masters by them: in Madrid one year ago and then in Toronto.

“So I just want to play them with a proper roster, with a proper mindset this time. And, I think just them. But it’s not like I’m scared of them. I just want to play them, I want to win against them.”

Hotspawn: Looking back on your journey, what’s the biggest thing you learned with Heretics and the most important thing you’ve learned with Liquid?

paTiTek: “I think with Heretics, I learned a lot about work ethic and how you should behave in scrims and what’s the proper mindset and proper… yeah, proper work ethic to just achieve something — something big, maybe like lift a trophy or go on deep runs in tournaments or just to be a consistent top two, top one team in the league.

“I think I learned that a lot from them, and I think a lot of the protocols that they had, which is amazing. I was just like a sponge soaking up water, which is the knowledge from them, because I was just grateful to play with players of that calibre.

“And yeah, I was just learning from them, and I’m using that in Liquid right now. It really helps me a lot.

“But what I learned in Liquid is [that] I think I learned how to be confident in myself. I think because I was really struggling with confidence in a lot of those games. And from a viewer perspective, it would look like I’m sometimes trolling or not playing up to my level most of the times, but I think I kinda went past that and I really don’t care anymore. Because I think I just cared too much, and I think that was my problem.

“I’m just super confident right now in what I’m doing, in every move that I do inside and outside of the game. And that really helps me, because if I’m gonna be confident in myself and my abilities and my shooting, my calling, my everything, then I know I’m gonna be fine. And for other players in my team, if they’re gonna do the same and they’re gonna be on the same level or even higher than me, I know we’re gonna be winning against good teams.”

Hotspawn: Last one — what’s your favourite dessert after a win?

paTiTek: “I think maybe I might sound too basic, but I think, like a good tiramisu, it’s hitting the spot. Definitely tiramisu.”