Team Vitality Chronicle announcement highlights issues with Valorant roster leaks

Hannah Marie ZT, Senior Editor

Last Updated: 27/10/2025

Team Vitality’s official Valorant social media announcing “Vitality Chronicle is real” highlighted the problems stemming from roster-leaking culture in esports. 

The organisation announced the signing (pending Riot Games approval) before Timofey ‘Chronicle Khromov’s former team, Fnatic, was able to break the news of his departure. 

“Vitality Chronicle is real” – Team Vitality’s Valorant roster announcement

Team Vitality excitedly announced that they have “already won the off-season” this year after signing Chronicle from Fnatic’s roster. 

Fans and esports talent alike regard Chronicle as one of the best active Valorant players. In the 2025 season, Chronicle and Fnatic placed second at every S-Tier tournament. Despite showing incomparable consistency, they were unable to secure a trophy. 

Chronicle spent three seasons competing on Fnatic’s roster. During this time, he has become virtually synonymous with the organisation’s orange and black colours. 

Therefore, his departure has been a topic fans have wrestled with since the Team Vitality Chronicle announcement on October 25th.  

At the same time as Team Vitality’s announcement, Chronicle posted his own message, which included thanking his Fnatic teammates, coaches, management, and fans for his journey on the roster. 

However, Fnatic’s official social media channels were not given time to announce Chronicle’s departure from the roster before the Team Vitality Chronicle announcement went live. 

Despite this heartbreak, fans have at least been able to celebrate the confirmation of iconic IGL Boaster, who has re-signed with Fnatic’s Valorant team for another year. 

Beating the leakers at their own game, or “classless” uncoordination?

Soon after the Team Vitality Chronicle announcement, Fnatic’s Valorant Team Director, Colin ‘CoJo’ Johnson, took his grievances with the timing to social media. 

According to CoJo, the decision to make the signing announcement before Fnatic could break the news of Chronicle’s departure was “completely classless.” He alleged that Team Vitality had not even attempted to coordinate the announcement with Fnatic. 

His post also suggested that Team Vitality’s hasty announcement was made to “fight the leaks.” 

This statement implies that, given the Team Vitality Chronicle rumours already circulating, the organisation wanted to announce the signing before any Valorant roster leakers could claim an agreement had been reached. 

As a result, Fnatic’s opportunity to follow the traditional process of acknowledging the loss of a player from the roster before their new team is confirmed was denied. 

Some called the disruption of traditional transfer etiquette “an absolute joke,” “heartless,” “embarrassing,” and “sloppy.” 

Others pushed back against those protesting the announcement style. Some cited Fnatic’s controversy in CS2, where Fnatic’s CYPHER recently confirmed he will not be playing for the team in the Starladder Budapest Major. 

In this case, it was Cai ‘CYPHER’ Watson himself who Fnatic left primarily responsible for communicating the news. 

Roster leaks have consistently circulated in esports communities for many years. For many, leaks and rumours have become a staple of roster transfer windows. 

However, leaks and rumours can undermine organisations’ control over their roster announcements. The Team Vitality Chronicle announcement highlights why some are becoming dissatisfied with the pervasive nature of leaks. 

Criticism of Team Vitality’s announcement timing highlights how this issue is beginning to affect the relationships between teams, players, and fans. 

Curbing leaks seems impossible, but roster-leaking culture appears to be spiralling out of control.

Hannah Marie ZT, Senior Editor

Hannah is a journalist specialising in the esports, gaming, and technology sectors. Working for outlets such as Dot Esports, Esports Insider, and of course ENUK, she has developed a love for wider esports, Apex Legends, and advocating for women's esports initiatives. You may have seen her at various esports and gaming events, including ALGS LANs, ESI London, EGX, and watch parties.

All Posts By Hannah Marie ZT