New role for Boaster as Fnatic make changes to Valorant roster

British Valorant star Jake ‘Boaster’ Howlett has taken on more of a support role within Fnatic’s Valorant team, as the organisation announced they had dropped two other players from the team.

Fnatic said they will not be renewing the contract of Russian player Andrey ‘BraveAF’ Gorchakov, and they have also moved Czech player Martin ‘Magnum’ Peňkov to the bench.

Fnatic benched BraveAF a few weeks ago after comments he made about Russia’s war in Ukraine, though Fnatic did state that the latest decision was ‘not a direct result of BraveAF’s recent suspension’, but was instead based on ‘a number of factors’. 

Team director Colin Johnson said: “As we continued to evaluate how we could maintain BraveAF’s place in the roster, we realised more and more that unfortunately, his position was untenable. This is due to a lack of clarity around being able to come to future boot camps, live events and even our ability to continue to pay him due to political restrictions.”

“Boaster will be moving to a more support role while Mistic switches to flex role. We feel this will enable Mistic further and once combined with a more consistent sentinel, will help shape the future development of this team.”

Fnatic

On Magnum, Fnatic added in this announcement post on their website: “Magnum has one of the best lurker minds in the game, combined with unrivalled game sense. However, as we reviewed his recent performances it was clear that we need to add more consistent firepower to the team.

“To help support this, Boaster will be moving to a more support role while Mistic switches to flex role. We feel this will enable Mistic further and once combined with a more consistent sentinel, will help shape the future development of this team.”

Boaster has been the enigmatic IGL (in-game leader) for Fnatic’s Valorant team since day one, and has become one of the biggest personalities both in the game, and as an esports player from the UK in general.

Fnatic said that trials for the two open roster slots are already underway. The team’s Valorant coach, mini, added in these tweets:

Fnatic recently had a disappointing showing at the Stage 1 Masters 2022 LAN in Iceland, finishing bottom of Group A with two losses.

Another org with UK talent, Team Liquid, went out in the quarter finals, losing to Loud in the upper bracket then Zeta Division in the lower bracket.

The Valorant Masters 2022 LAN final between Loud and Optic will take place this evening (April 24th 2022) from 6pm BST.

Last year, Fnatic reached the Stage 2 Masters LAN final.