Tomorrow marks the start of the first elimination matches at VCT 2025: EMEA Kickoff. In one of the opening clashes, NAVI will face Fnatic for a chance to stay in the tournament. Below, we analyze the current form of both teams.

Current Team Form

Natus Vincere

Natus Vincere has not participated in tournaments for the past month, with their last professional matches—aside from this event—dating back five months. In their last five games, NAVI managed just one win against Gentle Mates while losing to Team Vitality, GIANTX, KOI, and Karmine Corp.

It is worth noting that NAVI has made roster changes, though the key players remain the same. This consistency in the core lineup might be their main weakness. In their current state, NAVI appears weaker than their opponents, making the upcoming match a tough challenge.

Fnatic

Last month, Fnatic competed in the Riot Games ONE PRO INVITATIONAL 2024, where they secured first place out of four teams. In their last five matches, they claimed two victories—against Detonation FocusMe and Zeta Division—but suffered three losses to BBL, Leviatan, and G2.

Fnatic remains one of the top teams of 2023 and has shown good results in 2024. However, roster changes at the beginning of this season have left them slightly weaker compared to last year.

Map Pool Analysis

Natus Vincere

Most played maps:

• Ascent — 43 matches (63% win rate)
• Split — 34 matches (56% win rate)
• Bind — 31 matches (48% win rate)

Highest win rate maps:

• Ascent — 63%
• Fracture — 73%
• Pearl — 92%

Expected map choices:

• Ban: Haven
• Pick: Pearl

Fnatic

Most played maps:

• Icebox — 62 matches (73% win rate)
• Bind — 68 matches (74% win rate)
• Haven — 72 matches (68% win rate)

Highest win rate maps:

• Bind — 74%
• Icebox — 73%
• Lotus — 70%

Expected map choices:

• Ban: Fracture
• Pick: Bind

Head-to-Head

The teams have not faced each other in the last six months. Their previous three matches took place in the first half of 2024, where Fnatic won twice and NAVI once. This slight advantage may indicate Fnatic’s edge in the upcoming matchup, especially since both teams have retained their key players.

Match Prediction

Considering the current form and recent results, both teams appear relatively weak and are not tournament favorites. However, Fnatic seems more stable, which could be a decisive factor. NAVI, despite roster changes, still looks like an average team unable to compete with the top squads in the region.

Prediction: Fnatic to win 2-1

VCT 2025: EMEA Kickoff runs from January 15 to February 9 as a LAN event hosted at the Riot Games Arena. Twelve partnered teams from the VCT program are competing for two invitations to the Masters Bangkok tournament and crucial EMEA Points required for World Championship qualification.