Games

Derke feels reborn after moving on from FNATIC to Team Vitality

BBG News

Following Team Vitality‘s initial series at the VCT EMEA Kickoff 2025, Xpsp had a chat with Derke about joining their team.

In a fresh setting now, Nikita “Derke” Sirmitev has transitioned from predominantly playing VALORANT with FNATIC. Now, he’s part of a new squad, and they’re both brimming with a win under their belts and high hopes for the future.

Following Team Vitality’s initial series against Karmine Corp in the 2025 VCT EMEA Kickoff tournament, Xpsp had a conversation with Derke around 2 a.m., local time. During their chat, they discussed his recent move and adjusting to the team dynamics, all while reflecting on their performance in the match itself.

Derke thinks new Team Vitality is a Top 1 roster in VCT EMEA 2025

Given it’s quite late, I really appreciate your patience in speaking with me. Let me keep this brief.

Derke: “Thank you as well. I’m a bit off right now <laughs>.”

I see! It’s nearly four years since you last competed in a game wearing a jersey other than FNATIC’s. Was there any strange feeling as you stepped onto the stage representing Team Vitality today?

John: “Observing their gameplay was a little strange yet amusing. It feels like a fresh start for me – almost as if I’ve been reborn. A new team, a renewed confidence, and teammates who are genuinely enjoyable, youthful, and spirited. So it seems that we understand each other well, and we bring a lot of experience to the table. However, there was an element of strangeness too, and I can’t help but feel exhilarated about this new chapter.

Since it’s a new team, I assume you’ve had the chance to rehearse, but I imagine everything is still feeling quite novel and fresh for you, correct?”

Or simply:
“Given that it’s a new team, have you been able to practice enough, or does everything still feel pretty new?

Derke: “We put in a tremendous amount of work and our practice has been intense. Today I believe we demonstrated this, for instance, on Haven, which was fantastic. Even on Bind, we managed to get things going in some rounds. It’s okay that we lost it because we know it’s their strongest map.

We understand their tactics well, and we’ve developed some intriguing strategies to address the vulnerabilities we discovered in practice. However, it seems that those weaknesses were more evident during official games. This experience has helped us identify what areas require our attention and how to tackle these issues effectively.

In our recent match, there were numerous enjoyable moments for us. Similarly, their performance was impressive as well. They managed to close the gap during the second half, leading to an extended overtime. Overall, the contest was challenging due to their formidable strength.

As a fan, I must admit that the officials are still unfamiliar to us. We’ve only been playing practices so far; no off-season games yet. I believe that when you practice for such an extended period and make adjustments during practice, you can unintentionally develop some bad habits. For instance, I find myself over-peeking at corners or taking advantage of certain team strategies. It’s a learning process!

In simpler terms, “I believe that the tendencies developed over time as bad habits among officials can manifest themselves in their actions, such as today’s performance, but it’s worth noting that we haven’t had an official match for a while. Therefore, there might be some changes in the way people speak and behave, for instance, some individuals may communicate more effectively, while others may become more reserved or less active.

It was great to learn from our initial match. While we were thrilled about the victory, I must admit that I am even more pleased with identifying areas for improvement as we noticed some shortcomings and lost several rounds. Now, we have specific targets to focus on, and I believe this will make our future progress smoother in the long run. If we had an easy game, there’s a chance we might lose again next time, and then things could get complicated.

So, are there any tasks or activities you’ve taken up with Team Vitality that were different from your time at FNATIC, or things you weren’t previously permitted to do?

Derke: “In essence, having Sayf on my team provides me with greater autonomy. It’s a situation where I have their full trust, and I feel trusted by them. They encourage me to make those crucial plays, rather than sticking strictly to discipline. This flexibility is beneficial. However, I understand the dynamics within FNATIC, and there are instances where discipline is the better choice.

I believe I’m similarly aiding young players, such as Kicks, in mastering the Initiator role. Since the Duelist and Initiator combination needs to function seamlessly. I feel like we’ve nailed it down well. I think it has great potential for improvement, and I must say, he’s been impressing me a lot during practice sessions and even more so today.

Currently, he needs to adjust to the stage and the high-stakes matches where actions unfold that may be new to him. Additionally, Less contributes numerous strategies on the field, guiding us in terms of In-Game Leadership (IGLing).

Instead of solely focusing on macro strategies, I excel in micro plays, where I strategically decide where to engage, aiming for first blood or exploiting gaps. I also have a knack for spotting opportunities like an economical advantage or timing for ultimate use, which can help others make necessary adjustments.

Initially, the first two maps were quite simple. You each claimed your chosen maps, then we moved on to Abyss. The third map extended into overtime, and when you emerged victorious, did you feel as thrilled as you would have if it had ended earlier? Or was it more a sense of relief that the lengthy battle was finally over?

Me: Oh, absolutely! It was a triumph to see us emerge victorious. Regardless of the outcome, we would have been content. Losing is never enjoyable. I’ve experienced both the pain of defeat and the joy of victory, and even when we win, it’s hard not to feel for those who lost. It’s a feeling I don’t want to replicate, if you know what I mean.

Certainly, there’s no joy in boasting, but victories always bring a sense of satisfaction. Personally, I’m thrilled that we emerged victorious. Moreover, it’s a relief that the game is over now, and we won. Additionally, I’m content because, despite the tough challenge, we exposed some areas for improvement. This experience will make subsequent games seem easier.

Let’s discuss those Jett knives you used earlier. You jumped off the map, floated to their side, landed hits, and managed to return safely. It appears your play was strategic. Could you please share the thought process behind that action, how it was planned by the team, and then executed by you?

“Initially, we were a tad confused, but over TeamSpeak or similar platforms, we found ourselves saying something like, ‘Hey guys, there seems to be a stack over there.’ To which I responded, ‘You know what fellows? I’m not going to participate in any of your strategies at the moment. With just one hit point left, it wouldn’t make sense for me to hold anything. I’m going to take a risk and go for that play.'”

If something functions effectively, that’s great! Fantastic. If not, well, sometimes I might use an item, and other times I won’t. However, I have only one HP, which makes it challenging to engage in one-on-one battles on this platform. So, I might resort to some strategic moves. And it turned out well because I knew they were using a lot of support items simultaneously.

Afterwards, we need to be patient and brace for situations when someone like Jett or Raze might swoop down on LAN. Such occurrences can be quite disheartening. However, I decided to handle the timing myself. Surprisingly, it worked out. I’m simply a player who enjoys experimenting with different strategies. In fact, I often practice these tactics and find they come in handy during official matches. To those who know me well, they are aware that I frequently push boundaries with various aspects of the game.

Given that we’re still in the early stages of the season, I must say that it’s my first appearance with a new team in 2025. Considering the modified format and the extended schedule, how much progress do you think we could potentially make this season?

“I strongly believe we have great capabilities and could reach remarkable heights if we put in the necessary effort. Our potential is truly exceptional, perhaps even among the best. The key, I think, is dedication and persistence. We should make it a point to come into the office daily, be present, and even on challenging days, just show up and do our best.

We’ve identified areas for improvement, and by staying focused and avoiding complacency, we believe we can secure first place in our league. The talent and potential within our team is immense; it just requires us to rectify our errors. Our performance so far has been impressive.

Today, even though we emerged victorious against KC, I still believe they’re not a weak team. Nobody expected our match to be a walkover for Team Vitality. They displayed their unique style of play quite impressively, showcasing some impressive moves.

In truth, I believe encountering KC at the start of the year is significantly more challenging than facing them towards the end. This is because they have an extended period during the off-season to develop innovative strategies or “cheesy plays,” which can catch opponents off guard. Additionally, their reputation for using unusual compositions, often referred to as “cheesy comps,” and tactics that can disrupt your gameplay also contribute to this challenge.

Last year, they were using an Astra wall move, followed by Yoru emerging from it to eliminate everyone. It was simply incredible! However, it only worked a few times before losing its effectiveness. If you rely on this strategy for every game and every tournament, it becomes challenging, as you can’t always pull off the same move effectively. You understand, right?

As an enthusiastic gamer, I was thrilled to kick off our competition with their team, considering they previously only revealed a couple of maps. Given the limited scope, I knew it wouldn’t be a walk in the park, but we meticulously prepared for the challenge. Watching them go up against NAVI boosted my confidence significantly; I truly believed we could emerge victorious.

The focus isn’t solely on them; it’s more about us and our performance, our strategies, and our responses. Despite some errors today, I believe we displayed a strong game. As the victorious team, people will remember our win regardless, leaving us with a sense of satisfaction. If we rectify our mistakes, things should go smoothly moving forward.

Read More

2025-01-29 21:41

Previous post Can You Guess Which Nepo Baby Stole the Show at Paris Fashion Week?
Next post Baldur’s Gate 3 Finally Gets Split-Screen Support on Xbox Series S