Ukrainian esports powerhouse Natus Vincere (NAVI) has just made an exciting announcement for fans and followers of competitive gaming. The organization has revealed its lineup for the highly anticipated VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) 2026 season. This fresh roster includes the addition of two new players, setting the stage for what promises to be an electrifying year in esports.
Introducing the New NAVI Roster
In an engaging video shared on its YouTube channel, NAVI introduced the latest members of its VALORANT team. Polish player Dawid ‘Filu’ Czarnecki and Turkish star Volkan ‘sociablEE’ Yönal have joined forces with returning team members Andrei ‘Shao’ Kiprskii, Emirhan ‘hiro’ Kat, and Uğur ‘Ruxic’ Güç. The inclusion of Filu and sociablEE is expected to bring new energy and strategy to NAVI’s gameplay. SociablEE comes to NAVI from his previous position at BBL Esports, while Filu transitions from KOI after the organization’s partnership with Riot Games concluded.
The team will benefit from the leadership of French coach Vincent ‘Happy’ Schopenhauer, alongside Kyrylo ‘ANGE1’ Karasov, who has transitioned from player to coach. Assistant coach Dmytro ‘Chippy’ Bychenko will continue to support the team, having been an integral part of the squad in 2025.
NAVI’s Underwhelming VCT 2025 Run
NAVI’s journey in the VCT EMEA league has been challenging, with the team striving to establish itself among the region’s elite. The past year’s performance saw them finishing sixth in Stage 1 and concluding the second split in fourth place after a tough loss to GIANTX in the lower bracket semifinal. However, despite showing signs of improvement, NAVI fell short of collecting enough Championship Points to secure a spot in the Champions 2025, marking another year without an international presence since 2023.
This newly reformed roster is set to make its debut at the Project Blender tournament, an open event catering to amateur and professional teams alike. Following this, NAVI will gear up for the VCT EMEA Kickoff, which will take place on January 20th, marking the official start of the 2026 season.