Fnatic will be without their star sentinel, Emir “Alfajer” Ali Beder, in today’s highly anticipated upper bracket semifinal against Paper Rex due to ongoing health concerns. The team confirmed his absence just hours before the match in a statement on their official X account, noting that his recovery is progressing well, but he will miss the fixture on recommendations from medical staff and the organization.
Before we kick off vs Paper Rex, we need to share that @Alfajervl has experienced some health issues in recent days. Whilst he is recovering well, to prioritise his health & wellbeing and on reccomendation from health professionals and staff, he will unfortunatley miss today's… pic.twitter.com/Ga3qn2O4xu
— FNATIC (@FNATIC) September 28, 2025
Fnatic’s announcement emphasized prioritizing Alfajer’s health and well-being. In his stead, Domagoj “Doma” Fancev will return to the roster for the critical series. The organization expressed confidence in Doma’s ability and his established synergy from a previous tenure with Fnatic, while thanking him for stepping in at such short notice. The statement concluded with encouragement for fans to support Alfajer through his recovery and a promise to reunite at the venue later in the day.
A Rematch of Masters Toronto Finals
This match is not just another semifinal; it’s a rematch of the VALORANT Masters Toronto grand finals, where Paper Rex took home the win and the trophy, securing their first international title.
Anticipation is high as both squads aim to cement their dominance in one of the tournament’s most hyped matchups.
A Masters Toronto Grand Finals rematch between @pprxteam and @FNATIC. An Americas showdown between @MIBR and @NRGgg.
— VALORANT Champions Tour (@ValorantEsports) September 28, 2025
Day 14 of #VALORANTChampions is one you won't want to miss. Tune in at https://t.co/io2c23u0BL! pic.twitter.com/R1crszj8If
Fnatic comes in after a stellar showing against DRX, with Alfajer’s 64/36/15 KDA performance as the team’s primary sentinel playing a decisive part in that win. His absence thus changes the dynamic of today’s clash.
A Familiar Face
Doma has been staying active in the Tier-2 circuit, helping Enterprise Esports clinch the VALORANT Challengers 2025 NORTH//EAST: Stage 3 title before a 9th-12th finish at VALORANT Challengers 2025 EMEA: Stage 3. He previously played for Fnatic back in 2021. He was also a part of the VALORANT Masters Reykjavík 2021 roster, where Fnatic finished second to Sentinels.
While Doma’s main roles are as an initiator on agents like Sova and Breach, he is known to pick up Killjoy every now and then, a role he now inherits in Alfajer’s absence. The pressure will be on for him to step up against a tournament favorite, Paper Rex.
With Alfajer sidelined and Doma rejoining the fray, Fnatic faces a defining moment in their tournament run. If they lose, they will be relegated to the lower bracket, where they have a hungry DRX waiting for them for revenge. The rematch with Paper Rex promises high drama and intrigue.
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Featured Image Credit: Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games
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