LoL World Champion FunPlus Phoenix signs Valorant roster

Fresh off their League of Legends world championship victory, FunPlus Phoenix has made a strategic move into the competitive Valorant scene by securing their inaugural professional lineup.

The newly formed FPX Valorant squad brings together elite competitors from Sweden’s prominent FABRIKEN organization and Russia’s formidable Party Parrots collective. Both source teams had established themselves as dominant forces within Europe’s rapidly evolving Valorant competitive ecosystem.

Originally scheduled to participate in the Allied Esports Odyssey competition as Team ZypanGoKill, the ensemble received immediate rebranding following an official Twitter announcement from Allied Esports confirming their representation under the FunPlus Phoenix banner.

Congratulations to Team ZypanGoKill for being acquired by
@FPX_Esports! They face off against
@TeamLiquid
today at 9pm Central European Time!

The opening match of Day 1 commences at the top of the hour during the
@PlayVALORANT
Ignition Series:
#AlliedEsportsOdyssey!
pic.twitter.com/x6P6hOOWZE

— Allied Esports – $AESE (@AlliedEsports)
August 11, 2020

This acquisition positions the Chinese esports entity alongside a growing cohort of established organizations—including Team SoloMid, Cloud9, G2 Esports and FaZe Clan—that have committed resources to Riot Games’ innovative tactical shooter title.

The decision for FunPlus Phoenix to assemble a European Valorant roster might appear unexpected given the organization’s Chinese headquarters and predominantly Asia-focused operational footprint outside their League of Legends division. The brand’s most significant previous venture beyond LoL involved a challenging entry into Counter-Strike: Global Offensive that required effectively leasing multiple squads to compete throughout Flashpoint Season 1.

Clearly, that difficult experience didn’t deter the organization from pursuing opportunities in emerging esports disciplines.

FunPlus Phoenix’s competitive lineup features the following professional gamers:

• Kirill “ANGE1” Karasiow
• Pontus “Zyppan” Eek
• Andrey “Shao” Kiprsky
• Johan “Meddo” Renbjörk
• Tobias “shadow” Flodström

Four roster members bring extensive competitive backgrounds from CS:GO, with Zyppan representing the sole exception through his background in Fortnite competitive circuits.

ANGE1 stands out as the most seasoned competitor among the group, with a Counter-Strike professional career dating back to 2005. Recognized primarily for his multiple CS 1.6 and CSGO engagements with Ukrainian organization Hellraisers, he ranks among the most experienced veterans transitioning into Valorant’s competitive landscape.

FunPlus Phoenix has commenced their Allied Esports Odyssey tournament campaign with promising results, securing a victory against G2 Esports and achieving a draw versus Team Liquid. While the roster appears impressive theoretically, questions remain regarding potential communication hurdles within the combined Swedish and CIS regional composition.

The organization’s entry into Valorant reflects broader industry trends where established esports entities diversify their game portfolios to capitalize on emerging competitive scenes. This strategic move demonstrates FPX’s commitment to establishing a global footprint beyond their League of Legends dominance.

For teams considering similar expansions, understanding regional player dynamics and communication infrastructure becomes crucial. Successful integration of mixed-region rosters often requires dedicated team-building exercises and structured communication protocols to maximize competitive performance.

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