Fnatic’s Alfajer set for Valorant Champions 2025 return after health issues

Jack Stewart, Senior Editor

Last Updated: 01/10/2025

Fnatic has revealed that pro Valorant player Emir ‘Alfajer‘ Ali Beder will return to competing at VCT Champions Paris 2025.

The Turkish pro missed Fnatic’s previous Upper Bracket match versus Paper Rex due to personal health issues.

Surprisingly, Fnatic still managed to defeat the early tournament favourites with last-minute substitute Domagoj ‘Doma‘ Fancev from Enterprise Esports.

Now, Alfajer appears to be all healed up and ready to play in Fnatic’s match against NRG on Friday for a chance of reaching the Champions final.

Fnatic’s team director Colin ‘Cojo’ Johnson revealed a doctor in Paris had helped Alfajer’s recovery:

“The private doctor we found here in Paris was great after what was a really rough hospital experience.

“Very communicative & helped us expedite all of the tests/appts we needed.

“Happy that we got the all clear today & that we can go into the NRG game whole.”

Fnatic has also confirmed that Doma will remain with the team in Paris in case he needs to sub in again.

And the organisation joked that he is giving the team an ‘extra buff.’

The Croatian player only had 16 hours’ notice before one of Fnatic’s most important matches of the season.

After four hours of sleep and flying to Paris the day of the game and heading directly to the venue from the airport, his performance was remarkable.

It likely helped that he had previously played with Fnatic back in 2021 alongside Jake ‘Boaster’ Howlett.

Fnatic’s Miraculous win over Paper Rex

Fnatic have been flying at this year’s World Championships.

They topped their group, then Fnatic defeated DRX 2-1 at Valorant Champions in an impressive win, which included an impressive comeback from 10-2.

But it seemed Fnatic’s lack had finished with Paper Rex up next without ‘the final boss’ Alfajer, who had been so influential against DRX.

Yet, Fnatic somehow still came out on top with an emergency substitute to earn revenge for the Valorant Masters Toronto final earlier this year.

After a strong pistol round saw Paper Rex start 4-0, Fnatic fought well to keep it close but were unable to come back and lost Bind 13-10.

However, Fnatic responded in style with a monstrous 13-4 victory on Haven to tie the series.

Kajetan ‘kaajak’ Haremski was in incredible form. He picked up 30 kills in 23 rounds during the first game, then another 20 kills in the next 17 rounds.

Paper Rex then bounced back themselves, taking an 8-1 lead on Lotus.

But Fnatic continued to show excellent composure as they have done all tournament.

Fnatic, with emergency sub Doma, won 10 consecutive rounds to win 13-9 and close out the series.

Jack Stewart, Senior Editor

In my seven years of esports writing, I've introuduced esports coverage to newspapers, interviewed some of the biggest names in the industry, and driven viewers mad with the puns in my YouTube scripts. I'm most proud of the latter.

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