NA’VI crumbles against Team Heretics in VCT EMEA Kickoff Playoffs

NA’VI crumbles against Team Heretics in VCT EMEA Kickoff Playoffs

Foo Zen-Wen

29 Jan, 2024, 19:49

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Last updated: 10 Apr, 2025, 11:15

Team Heretics becomes the first EMEA team to qualify for VCT Masters Madrid.

Their series against Natus Vincere (NA’VI) saw the latter crumble in a Bo3 that looked a fairly one-sided affair for the Spanish organization.

Breakout rookie Dominykas "MiniBoo" Lukaševičius was a crucial part of the team’s success, delivering a massive total of 49 kills and 10 First Bloods to close out the series in two.

NA’VI Crumble

Natus Vincere entered the VCT EMEA year as one of the favorites, with the re-addition of Ardis "ardiis" Svarenieks reuniting the old FunPlus Phoenix roster in its entirety. In their path, Team Heretics. The sole remaining roadblock on their path to the first international VALORANT LAN of 2024. Moreover, Heretics had been operating with a substitute and an online player.

Despite an initial strong showing from the NA’VI side on Sunset, they failed to capitalize on their Defense-side produced lead of 8-4, leading to a forced overtime from the side of Heretics that ended with Heretics stealing the win from right under NA’VI.

Heading into Breeze (NA’VI’s map pick), Heretics stormed the beleaguered NA’VI defense to a dizzying 10-2 half. Pick after pick went Heretics way as they closed out the map and series in confident fashion 13-4.

Undefeated

In a shock to many long-time watchers of EMEA, Heretics began their Kickoff journey with more furor than was expected for a team with this many missing pieces. They proceeded to crush their way through Groups with a decisive 4-0 victory, qualifying for Playoffs. Now they have qualified for Madrid in 6 maps, without dropping a single point to their opponents.

Credit: Michal Konkol/Riot Games


Read More:

VCT EMEA 2024 Kickoff

[Updated] VCT Masters Madrid 2024: All Qualified Teams.

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