‘VALORANT is not much fun for casual players’: Fnatic’s Chronicle & Kaajak Interview 

Fnatic is one of the top VALORANT teams in Europe. They have a few of the most talented esports athletes in the world, so we sat down with two key team members to better understand their view of the game’s future, VCT EMEA goals, and partnership with Red Bull.

Fnatic’s Timofey ‘Chronicle’ Khromov and Kajetan ‘Kaajak’ Haremski are impressive VALORANT players with unique insight into competitive gaming. 

Below, we’ve laid out a few insights from our interview with Fnatic, so read on to gain a better understanding of the life of a top esports athlete.

VALORANT is a highly competitive video game, even outside of the esports sector. However, balancing the esports side with casual play will help retain the overall player base, and Fnatic explained why Riot Games needs to find a balance between supporting casuals and pros. They said:

“Even though the game was made with a focus on the competitive side, it might be a wrong decision; they also need to focus on casual players. I see a lot of casual players coming to VALORANT, sadly, they don’t find that much fun with this game. There will be a point when esports will not grow anymore.”

The fun factor is a key ingredient in any successful multiplayer title. If a game can’t keep players interested, fans will be even less likely to tune into esports tournaments.

Game developers are partially responsible for supporting both the casual and pro sides of multiplayer games, as the athletes of Fnatic conveyed to Esports Insider. They said:

“It’s also on Riot to make changes to the game to make it more fun to play. It’s very important to actually have fun in the game, other than just striving for competition.”

Fnatic also expressed that while the competitive side is an important part of VALORANT’s community, supporting casual gameplay will help build a stronger following in general.

“Competition is not what makes people more interested; it might be one of the factors, but it’s not only that,” they added.

Adding new game modes, events, and agents is key in keeping players active, which in turn may translate into viewership for VALORANT’s esports scene. 

Moves made by Riot Games could possibly have the biggest effect on competitive VALORANT. Otherwise, the industry won’t gain steady growth.

Fnatic believes that the upcoming VCT EMEA will offer new challenges due to the fierce competition they face. Despite hardship, Fnatic is ready to win. They said:

“We’re going to have some hard games maybe, so there’s going to be some challenges to prove ourselves that we are the best. The challenge is just to win.”

Chronicle and the other members of Fnatic’s VALORANT team will face talented opponents, like Team Heretics, in the VCT EMEA Stage 1. 

Fnatic plays to win, so Team Heretics will have some tough competition.

Fnatic partnered with Red Bull in 2025, so Esports Insider asked what the team members think about its new home. Kaajak and Chronicle expressed their appreciation for Red Bull as an energy drink that helps them stay focused in the heat of a match.

Kaajak told Esports Insider:

“It’s good because I love Red Bull, to be honest. Representing them is really good for me because Red Bull is my favorite energy drink. Also, we can drink it on the stage, so it’s just perfect.” 

In the end, Fnatic believes that Red Bull is destined to win; “It’s just all about winning, and I guess winning is Red Bull.”

Chronicle and Kaajak expressed that aspiring VALORANT athletes might find disappointment in the pro leagues due to their incredibly high bar of entry, but Fnatic also thinks that up-and-coming esports athletes should follow their dreams, as everybody’s experience is different. They said:

“Don’t be disappointed by what you actually see because it’s not as fun or as easy as people see it. But keep believing in yourself.”

Esports isn’t just about being a talented player; luck and outside factors can also determine the outcome of a competitive match, and in turn, an athlete’s career.

“It looks so easy, you just need to be good. But it’s not only about being good. When you come to this point, it can become disappointing or way too hard.”

Though Fnatic presses on in its journey to be the best, it can be difficult for new athletes to transition into the major leagues, as Chronicle and Kaajak pointed out during our interview.

Both Kaajak and Chronicle expressed their strong intent to win the VCT EMEA in 2025. 

Though the future is uncertain, Fnatic plans to give it their all and keep honing their skills. The Fnatic athletes explained that the esports scene will only grow if Riot Games continues to successfully support both the casual and competitive audiences of VALORANT.

The future is bright for Fnatic, as they host a few of the best esports players in Europe. The competition will get even fiercer in the VCT EMEA this spring, so Chronicle and Kaajak will strive to reach new heights in their esports careers.