In an exclusive interview for Tedd's show TeddTalk, fear, a player from Fnatic and former captain of Passion UA, discussed his tough decision to leave his home team, adapting to the international scene, and the talent of new teammate Jambo. The conversation took place against the backdrop of preparations for the BLAST.tv Austin Major, where the revamped Fnatic is ready to prove that youth and ambition are a powerful formula for success.

Parting with Passion UA and Choosing Growth

After the RMR, Fear faced a choice—stay with his home team or take on a new challenge. He immediately discussed the situation with Passion UA, where he played as captain, but the situation within the team was unstable: Jambo's potential departure was being discussed, and the future seemed uncertain.

I had several offers after the RMR, and I want to say that first of all, I talked to Passion. I asked them about changes in our lineup, and let's just say, I understand that some players will leave. There were also many rumors about Jambo—that he might move to Falcons or some other major organization. So yes, if they had kept this lineup for the next season, maybe I would have stayed with Passion UA. But I understood that players would be leaving

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Making the move to Fnatic wasn't easy, especially considering the need to speak English and adapt to a new structure. But the main motivation was accepting the challenge for himself:

First of all, it's a very good challenge for me. I'm not sure. Can you name an IGL from the CIS or Ukraine who has shown good results in an international team? That's exactly why I'm here

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Current Fnatic Roster: Bootcamp, Jambo, and Ambitions

Fnatic is currently at a bootcamp in anticipation of the MRQ at the BLAST Austin Major. Before Jambo joined the team, fear was a bit worried about how he would adapt and how quickly he could integrate into the English-speaking environment. However, his concerns quickly dissipated:

I was a bit nervous, but he went from a five to a six, I'm so impressed with him, he's really doing great

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Fear's most striking statement was about Jambo's potential:

Jambo is currently in the top three AWP in the world, with m0NESY at number one and ZywOo at number two; in terms of talent, Jambo is definitely in the top three AWP. Overall, of course, he has less experience than sh1ro, less game knowledge because of less experience, I understand, but in terms of talent, he's definitely in the top three

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Fear on the Difference Between Tier-1 and Tier-2

According to fear, by 2025, the difference between the Tier-1 and Tier-2 scenes has become minimal. He notes that the level of competition is incredibly high and urges people to stop categorizing teams by outdated standards—Tier-2 is often no less competitive than Tier-1:

First of all, the game is very competitive now. And second—please stop evaluating Tier-2, Tier-1. Believe me, Tier-1 is not harder than the second. Believe me. I see PGL Bucharest now, I can't watch. Many people can't watch. It's a very similar level now. Okay, if you win Tier-2, like we did with Passion UA, you'll have results like we did with Passion UA in Shanghai

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Fear's story is not just a transition from Tier-2 to Tier-1. It's living proof that young captains from the CIS can not only integrate into Western systems but also lead renowned organizations. And Jambo's story is a vivid example of how individual talent can soar to new heights within the right structure. Fnatic is rebuilding—and doing so on a young, ambitious foundation.