Derke on EMEA criticism: "All the EMEA teams were laughing at us"
Team Vitality's Nikita "Derke" Sirmitev is not feeling the pressure of being the final representative of EMEA in the VALORANT Champions playoffs. Following a 2:1 victory over Nongshim RedForce, the player spoke to Verizon about the criticism faced during Stage 2 and the team's tactical adjustments.
Addressing the weight of representing the region, Derke dismissed the idea that the pressure is mounting. He highlighted the stark contrast between their performance in Stage 2—where they suffered two losses to tier-2 teams—and their current standing as the sole remaining EMEA team in the playoffs.
The team also implemented role changes on Split, with Sayonara moving to Viper and Jamppi switching to Fade. Derke explained that these shifts were driven by the players and coaches to maximize their impact on the map, noting that he fully trusts the team's decision-making regarding individual roles.
Regarding their ability to secure wins in overtime, Sirmitev credited the mental resilience provided by veterans Chronicle and Jamppi. He emphasized that the team's ability to reset and focus on the immediate rounds, rather than past mistakes, has been crucial. After an early exit from the EMEA Stage 2 playoffs, Vitality secured their spot in the upper bracket semifinals by defeating Global Esports, LOUD, and Nongshim RedForce.
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