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“I don’t think I should retire yet,” FNATIC Boaster on turning 30 during the 2025 VCT season

BBG News

In the 2025 VCT opening, FNATIC suffered a loss against BBL, and we had an immediate chat with Boaster regarding this defeat.

Jake “Boaster” Howlett returns once more to FNATIC, commencing at the VCT EMEA Kickoff 2025. Regrettably, the season did not begin as they had anticipated; they faced a defeat in their initial game against BBL Esports.

Following the recent setback, Xpsp had a conversation with Boaster. During this discussion, they covered topics such as the latest additions to the team, Leo’s current situation, Boaster’s perspective on the maps, and even the possibility of retiring since he turns 30 in May.

Don’t forget to check out our Xpsp VALORANT YouTube channel, as we’ll soon post a video of this interview there!

Boaster ponders when to call it quits, but is still ready to go after FNATIC vs. BBL

With your first appearance in 2025 for VCT, there seems to be a fresh image for your team. We’ve watched some clips and matches where you all have been playing together. The results weren’t what you aimed for, but how is the team dynamic shaping up?”

Or, more casually:

“Your 2025 VCT debut! Looks like a new vibe with the squad. We’ve watched some gameplay, and it didn’t go as planned, but are things going well between you guys?

Individual: “I believe the team spirit is strong. Our training sessions are progressing well, though not exceptionally, but we’re picking up new things. It’s unfortunate about our defense during Split play. We seemed to lack effective strategies, which was disappointing. The rounds tended to escalate quickly, making it quite challenging.

Let’s dive right into the game details, but before that, I want to address the team aspect. Can you provide us with any recent news about Leo and his possible comeback in competition?

Leo’s condition isn’t great yet, keeping him in bed. I’m unsure about when Leo will recover and resume his activities, including shooting.

In the 1960s, a cultural phenomenon known as the British Invasion took place, with bands like The Beatles, The Who, and The Yardbirds gaining immense popularity in America. It seems that we’re witnessing a reversal of sorts now, with an “American Invasion” happening in EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa). Bands such as flyuh, Sadhaak, Less, and your teammate crashies are making their way across the Atlantic Ocean. I’m curious to know what factors are drawing these American artists to Europe.

Speaker: “Initially, our aim was to compete at Tier 1 level instead of Tier 2 or Ascension for some teams. And just like N4RRATE did when he played with KC, we wanted to start at a lower tier and then move up to join a top team, similar to what happened with him joining Sentinels. However, Leo wasn’t available, so we had to find someone quickly and crashies seemed like the perfect fit.

Certainly, it’s not just about the fresh faces on the team. As an In-Game Leader, you’ll be handling a new Agent and a shift in the map selection, with Icebox and Ascent making their comeback. Let’s dive into our conversation by discussing Tejo first. To begin with, what are your initial impressions of the newly introduced Agent? Particularly, how do you think Alfajer utilized this Agent during the opening match?

As a supporter of his gameplay, I acknowledge that Tejo performs well on certain maps, but not all. He’s enjoyable to watch, and I don’t believe today’s performance on Abyss was due to Tejo’s inadequacy. Instead, I sense there’s a strategy issue at play, which I believe I can address. Unfortunately, we failed to secure three rounds on the attacking side of Abyss today, and that’s disappointing for me as an In-Game Leader. However, I firmly believe Tejo has immense potential on specific maps. It’s just a matter of identifying those suitable ones.

Later on, what’s your take on having him ready to play from the start at the kickoff in 2025, and the map rotation shifting so rapidly these days?

Casual Speech: “I don’t mind that he’s available; he’s not overpowered or game-breaking like Astra was at first. He’s decent, but you need to know how to utilize his abilities effectively. He’s not a plug-and-play character.

I believe that’s the advantage we gain from this situation. However, I must admit, the frequent changes to the map pool can be quite inconvenient. With our year being extended for additional breaks, these breaks no longer feel as relaxing due to the constant adjustments in the maps. This is particularly true for those in leadership and strategic positions. Nonetheless, we have to adapt to the circumstances because it’s an integral part of the game. So we’ll find a way to make it work.

As a dedicated fan, I’m diving into the analysis of the thrilling match now. On Abyss, BBL came within a hair’s breadth of defusing the Spike in Round 5, just 0.01 seconds away from success. That round was a nail-biter, with the potential to swing the momentum significantly. Remarkably, BBL held their ground and demonstrated resilience throughout the rest of the map. After such a close call where we nearly turned the tide but ultimately fell short, I’m eager to know how the team is feeling as they reflect on this intense game.

Individual: “Clearly, I plan on rewatching that match. I had certain strategies prior to this game, things I thought needed to be done, and today’s game seems to validate those thoughts. It was a very tight contest. Given the circumstances, we need to determine what adjustments should be made post-match, particularly regarding our defensive strategy.

In confronting Sage compositions, we anticipated their aggressive strategies with walls, causing us trouble. Therefore, I believe we should raise our gameplay. Split’s defense is a clear instance where we failed to adapt or read the situation correctly, and Abyss had similar issues. However, I’ll shoulder more of the blame for Abyss. The map is challenging, but yes.

Moving on to our present map rotation. In regards to the map Fracture, you truly shone. Do you enjoy having this one-of-a-kind map added back into the mix?

Enthusiast: Absolutely, Fracture has been one of my preferred maps ever since its launch. FNATIC have consistently excelled on it, and for me, it’s a thrill to take on the role of Brimstone, charging in with confidence, ready for a tasty engagement .

I really enjoy Brimstone; he’s my favorite. Omen doesn’t appeal to me much, but Astra is alright. However, it’s Brim who stands out for me. His Stim Beacon ability lets me rush in and his utility aligns with my playstyle. He’s quite aggressive, especially with Molotovs and his Ultimate. As for the team, at least we have Fracture map now, which gives us a chance to win.

Again, Split demonstrated its offensive prowess. Could this have contributed to BBL’s comeback? Was it possibly due to their success in pistol rounds? I noticed they were particularly tough to defend against. How did they manage to keep your team from gaining momentum on defense?

As a gamer, I’ve got to admit, our luck didn’t seem to be on our side today. Losing the pistol round is always a 50/50 deal, and unfortunately, that was us this time. Then, we made a mistake by giving them a pick, and when we had a buy, they had Raze Ultimate and another Ultimate – talk about tough odds! We almost managed to pull off a victory, but it was just too close for comfort.

Later on, they used the Operative to select me for the B Main round, putting us back at a 4 vs 5 situation. At that point, the score was already 9-9 and things didn’t seem pleasant. The rounds then began to intensify. We seemed to have given them too much power.

As we became increasingly uneasy, unsure of our next steps, it was evident that the supports were failing and we weren’t operating effectively on the site. It was undeniably an enlightening experience. If we don’t make it to Thailand, which is proving to be a challenging journey now, then I suppose it will serve as a valuable lesson for us.

At least we are ready for future Masters events, and hopefully we will qualify for Champs. Therefore, this year is going to be more challenging, as FNATIC might not be as dominant as before. It seems everyone is playing exceptionally well at the moment. Unfortunately, but that’s competition – it’s exciting!

OR

We are prepared for upcoming Masters competitions and aiming to qualify for Champs this year. However, this season will be tougher because FNATIC may not dominate as before, as other teams appear to play exceptionally well. Despite the unfortunate circumstances, competition is what keeps us going – it’s thrilling!

To wrap things up, let’s address something sensitive. It seems obvious that you possess the skills to continue competing. However, we’ve noticed many players retiring recently, including FNS who announced his last year of competition. TenZ and Sacy have also bid farewell. Given your years in the game and the approaching milestone of turning 30 during the season, have you ever felt a voice urging you to quit due to your age? Or how do you handle this reality?

Boaster: “Fortunately, my position as an In-Game Leader (IGL) is typically reserved for older individuals or those who may not be as skilled in shooting as they once were. Additionally, it’s often held by people passionate about strategy. So, I possess an advantage in this regard.

Regarding retirement, it’s tough to decide at the moment. I don’t feel ready yet. To be honest, VALORANT is quite an aged game, around four or five years old now. I believe I’ll carry on for a while longer. However, after a loss like this, I sometimes wonder if life would be simpler if I were just spectating other teams going through mental struggles instead of me. But that’s the nature of competition, isn’t it?

As a player, I thrive on competition, yet I dislike the taste of defeat. Over the course of my career, I’ve been incredibly blessed and fortunate to have reached this level. I hope that my journey doesn’t conclude with a disappointing finale, but I remain optimistic. My shots feel on target during scrimmages, and today’s official games are no exception. Granted, our performance on Abyss has been less than ideal with the current strategy, but overall, our attacking sides have held up well. Our defense, however, requires some work. I can’t emphasize enough how challenging defense can be in this game.

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2025-01-20 17:41

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