NAVI's new roster has brought the former FunPlus Phoenix squad back together.
NAVI has confirmed the signing of Ardis "ardiis" Svarenieks as a direct replacement for Mehmet "cNed" Yağız İpek for the upcoming VCT 2024 season. The news was first announced on NAVI's social media channels as well as a press release on the organisation's website. The move will see the former FunPlus Phoenix squad that won the Stage 2 Masters in Copenhagen last season reunite once again.
This also means that ardiis has called time on his relatively short stint with NRG in VCT Americas. Throughout the 2023 season, NRG's roster on paper had one of the best squads to challenge for the top spot in North America. They started off brightly as well with a top-eight finish at VCT LOCK//IN after they lost to LOUD.
Speaking of which, LOUD would become a thorn to NRG's side as they ended up losing to them once again in the VCT Americas League grand finals. NRG would go on to get a top-four finish in only its second international VCT event at Masters Tokyo, which also featured the team's heartbreaking loss to Paper Rex in the semifinals.
And just two months later at VCT Champions, NRG imploded as they lost not once, but twice to Bilibili Gaming to get eliminated in the group stage. You could tell from then on that the chemistry within NRG was simply not working. As for NAVI, they will also be looking to put this season behind them after an impressive start before it all went downhill.
NAVI started the season in great form with a top-four finish at LOCK//IN, followed by another fourth-place finish in the VCT EMEA League. However, it was at Masters Tokyo where their form started to truly dip. NAVI suffered a shock group stage elimination after two straight losses to NRG and EDward Gaming.
Even with a decent performance during the EMEA last-chance qualifiers that saw NAVI make it to Champions, they also failed to make it past the group stage. This came after a strong start that saw NAVI defeat Team Liquid. Unfortunately, they would soon lose to DRX in a nail-biting series as well as getting reverse-swept by LOUD.
With ardiis now back in the mix, he will get the chance to play with his former FPX teammates once again. Hopefully, they can replicate their Stage 2 Masters - Copenhagen performance to lift another trophy under a new banner.
Natus Vincere Roster:
Kirill “ANGE1” Karasiow
Dmitry “SUYGETSU” Ilyusin
Pontus “Zyppan” Eek
Ardis “ardiis” Svarenieks
