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“I believe in us so much that I have no doubts that we’ll learn from this” – Team Heretics Benjyfishy on Debut Loss Against NAVI at Kickoff
Team Heretics have arrived in 2026 with their debut match against Natus Vincere (NAVI) in VCT EMEA Kickoff, but perhaps not with the landing they were hoping for. After a fierce clash across 3 maps, NAVI eventually came away with the victory, dropping Team Heretics down to the Middle Bracket.
Heretics showed promising early signs especially with new signing Berkcan “ComeBack” Şentürk taking over the reins of duelist following the departure of longtime member Dominykas “MiniBoo” Lukaševičius.
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Following the conclusion of their series, Strafe Esports sat down with Team Heretics player Benjy “benjyfishy” Fish to reflect on the team’s performance during the series, goals for 2026 following a quieter 2025, his thoughts on the game changes during the off-season, and so much more in this exclusive interview.
*The following interview has been lightly edited for readability
“We’re a team that can improve really quickly”
NAVI’s opening map pick of Bind quickly found Team Heretics on the backfoot. Despite an early flurry of rounds exchanged between the two teams, NAVI began pulling ahead as they stabilized on Defense, leading to a strong 8-4 first half. However, it was their win on their bonus round after securing the second pistol which cemented their lead at 11-4.
In spite of Team Heretics’ best attempt at a comeback, in large part thanks to Enes “RieNs” Ecirli who continued to find incredible impact, the score difference proved too big as NAVI managed to close out 13-10.
On Haven, the roles reversed as Team Heretics quickly found themselves in the commanding position of 9-3 going into the second half. NAVI made a strong attempt on Attack to surmount the gap, but the difference once again proved too much as Heretics tied the series and forced a decider.
Unfortunately, on Split, Team Heretics appeared bereft of answers as NAVI surged ahead to a 9-3 lead then closed out the series 13-6, marking a disappointing end to an otherwise fairly competitive series.
Commiserations on the loss today, that was a close series. Not to start with the generic question of what are your thoughts after the game, but what are your thoughts after the game? Do you have any takeaways from the series?
Benjyfishy: (laugh) To be honest, I’m not like… I was a bit sad right after we lose, obviously. We’ve spoken a little bit (as a team). I think we still have more to speak about, about why we lost. I think… for me, we’re a team that can improve really quickly on low amounts of time. So, I’m not really worried. I believe that if we stick to what we know, and we just carry on grinding, keep improving, then it’s kind of no problem.
I think a lot of fans will see us losing the first match and think, ‘oh, they’re not that good, or whatever’. But to be honest, I believe in us so much that I have no doubts that we’ll learn from this. So, it’s kind of okay for me.
This year, VCT introduced a new format, the triple-elimination. What are your thoughts on that?
Benjyfishy: I think it makes Kickoff a bit cooler to be honest. I always thought that the finals of Kickoff was a bit boring because it was only two teams qualifying. And it was kind of playing for nothing. I mean, sure, you get a trophy. But the main thing that teams want is to qualify for an international. So, now there’s three teams and I think it’ll be a better viewing experience.
“We didn’t want to just play the same as we did before”
In an off-season already beset with numerous in-game changes, Team Heretics had to contend with one of their own departing. Longtime player MiniBoo hung up the Heretics jersey marking an end to a 2-year relationship with the organization. In his stead, former Gentle Mates Turkish-Bulgarian talent ComeBack was brought on to complete the roster.
Talk me through the preparations during the off-season. Obviously, first to start, the big one in the room, MiniBoo stepping away from the team, that seemed like a huge identify shift. Can you talk me through a little bit what you guys went through during the off-season?
Benjyfishy: MiniBoo leaving was always going to be hard. He was a really big part of our team for such a long time. We were very used to playing with him. I think finding someone that was going to be similar to MiniBoo was impossible and so we wanted to try and find someone different. We didn’t want to just play the same as we did before.
I think ComeBack is a really good addition, mainly because it’s a challenge for us. Right now, his English isn’t the best. He’s only played in Turkish teams. He played in Gentle Mates, but not for a super long time. But mainly, his experience with Turkish teams… they have a very different game style than us, but we know how talented ComeBack is. We know that if we can keep improving and get ComeBack used to how we play, and also include some how ComeBack plays, then he’s going to be incredible.
I think off-season in general was quite hard for us, because RieNs had military service for a month. So, we didn’t get to practice with our full roster for a month. But to be honest, I think with time, we’re going to be completely fine.
Not to do a disservice to MiniBoo, but what do you think ComeBack brings to this version of Heretics that makes it different to the old iterations of the roster?
Benjyfishy: I think… they’re two different players. ComeBack likes to take more risks. He’s more of a… he’s very flashy and he likes to do risky things. Whereas I think MiniBoo was more on the safer side.
Obviously, he’ll still do crazy things, he’s still a duelist. But I think ComeBack likes to take more risks, and when he’s feeling it, he’ll do anything. We’ve seen in scrims, just destroying people on his own. So, I think when he’s got confidence, he can take over the game basically.
Chasing Former Heights: Can Heretics Return to the Summit?
I think we can be the best team in the world, always.
In 2024, Team Heretics was the pride of VCT EMEA. With two grand final finishes at internationals, they were nigh untouchable with an unshakeable mental it seemed.
Come 2025, the roster still showed incredible strengths, but it was hollower. 2 international qualifications with a 5th/6th finish at Champions 2025.
EWC was the pinnacle of their year, seeing the roster rise above Fnatic to claim the title and silverware. Now with a new member, can Heretics find it within themselves to revitalize and return to the top?
Obviously, it’s really early days. You’ve just completed your first series. But where do you place the upper skill ceiling of this team? Where do you think Heretics sits if all the pieces land in a row?
Benjyfishy: I think if everything works out the way that we envision it, then I think we can be the best team in the world, always. For me, we only lose to teams because of ourselves. If we’re playing 100% of our true potential, then we can’t lose. The only time I’d say that we lost to a better team was EDG at Champs. I think apart from that, when we lose, it’s down to ourselves. So, if we hit the potential that I think we can, then I believe we can be even better than 2024 Heretics.
Coming off 2024, two Grand Finals appearances, 2025 was a bit quieter for you, guys. You won EWC obviously. Strong placement at Champions, 5th-6th. So, what are some of the learnings and expectations that you’re bringing into 2026? What are the non-negotiables?
Benjyfishy: I think we don’t like to hold expectations to ourselves. I think they can kind of put unnecessary pressure. All of us have our goals, you know, like qualifying for every international – winning, etc. Obviously, you have goals, but I think focusing on things on game at a time is the only way that you’re actually going to become really, really good.
When you’re in this, it’s a long year, and losing one game in the grand scheme of things isn’t the biggest deal. So, I think just taking it one game at a time, just focusing on improving and playing good VALORANT is what we should be thinking about.
As for the non-negotiables: in the end, we play for each other. We don’t play for ourselves. Obviously, we have very talented players on our team, but we don’t play as just 5 individuals. Everything that we do is for the team and that’s always going to stay the same. That’s how we believe you win tournaments, that’s how we believe you become a good team. Just playing for each other, trusting each other.
I think trust is such a big, important part of a team that if you don’t have that, you’re not going to be able to succeed no matter what. And I think just enjoying ourselves. At the end of the day, we’re around each other basically every day for 8 months out of the year. you have to enjoy your time with each other. Because otherwise, if things start getting hard, and you end up not liking each other, then it’s just going to make things 10 times worse.
“I enjoy [the Bandit], but I don’t think it’s meta-defining”
Reflecting next on the changes to the game since Champions 2025, teams had plenty of prep work coming into Kickoff. From the agent nerfs back in Patch 11.08 to the subsequent smaller agent patch, map pool rotation, and the introduction of a new pistol to the game, Benjyfishy lent his thoughts.
Lot of changes in the off-season, introduction of the Bandit, map rotation, agent changes. As a player well-known for your Cypher and sentinels, what do you think of the changes?
Benjyfishy: I think Vyse got the biggest hit. Cypher obviously got a really big hit, but I think he’s still very viable. I think Cypher still has things that no other Sentinel does. Like the information that you can get is still the greatest out of any of them. I think Vyse is pretty hard to play now. The change to the ult and the flash info is crazy. I think at least, they should have kept one of them, maybe. But I don’t expect she’ll get much play in general. She’s still playable, it’s fine. Obviously, the old Cypher days were amazing, but it was pretty strong to be fair. So, I understand why they did it.
We’re seeing Bandit usage across all the regions. What do you think of the latest gun? Is it going to be meta-defining like the outlaw was?
Benjyfishy: No, I don’t think the Bandit is a meta-defining gun. You’ll see people use it obviously. I enjoy using it, so I play it sometimes. But it’s not something, especially when it’s a pistol, it’s not like people are going to be buying it over a vandal. I think if it was broken, you’d see way more people using it. It’s been out for a while now. People have tried it. People have used it. But yeah, it’s not some crazy gun.
“Joining VALORANT is still probably one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life”
In the final portion of the interview, we reflect on a milestone in Benjyfishy’s career. Popular and charismatic, he found fandom and following in Fortnite as a prodigous talent before transitioning to VALORANT seeking a new challenge.
When I previously spoke with you 2 years ago, a lot of the discussion at the time was around your transition from Fortnite to VALORANT. But presently, you’ve established yourself as a name and force within VALORANT. As a reflection question, what do you see as the biggest different between yourself back then and the person you are now?
Benjyfishy: That’s a good question. I think I grew a lot. I think I matured a lot as a person swapping to VALORANT. In Fortnite, the competitive scene is way looser. It’s not as strict. There’s no franchising. You can chill at your own home. Maybe you have a LAN every now and then, but in general, it’s very chill.
VALORANT is very all-in. You move to a different country. You’re not home that often for 8 months. It’s an everyday thing and it’s a lot more like a real job than Fortnite was. And I think that matured me quite a lot. I’m able to understand how to be a good teammate more and just also a good person. I think my team has helped me become a better person and for all that, it’s still probably the best decision I’ve made in my life apart from starting Fortnite.
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Featured Image Credit: Wojciech Wandzel/Riot Games