FUT Esports has replaced Ata ‘ATA KAPTAN’ Tan with Mehmet ‘cNed’ İpek for its VCT EMEA Stage 2 starting roster.
Although cNed has been signed to the Turkish esports organisation since 2023, the player was previously benched ahead of VCT EMEA Kickoff in January.
As a Partner Team, FUT Esports has been competing in Riot’s franchised VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) since 2023. In the same year, the organisation qualified for both Masters Tokyo and the season-ending VALORANT Champions event.
However, FUT has struggled to keep up with the top-performing EMEA teams in the later seasons. Its last international attendance was Masters Shanghai in June last year. At the 2025 Kickoff and Stage 1 events, FUT placed fourth and fifth, respectively.
Following the signing of Doğan ‘xeus’ Gözgen, cNed was moved to an inactive position before the 2025 VCT season kickoff. The Turkish player was even temporarily loaned to Challengers team Valiant. Prior to his tenure at FUT, cNed spent three years competing for various EMEA organisations, including BBL Esports and NAVI.
FUT Esports Heads to VCT EMEA Stage 2
In today’s announcement video, titled ‘The race to Champions Paris begins’, FUT revealed its starting line-up, which does not feature its veteran member, ATA KAPTAN:
- Doğukan ‘qRaxs’ Balaban
- Mehmet Yağız ‘cNed’ İpek
- Doğan ‘xeus’ Gözgen
- Eray ‘yetujey’ Budak
- Furkan ‘MrFaliN’ Yeğen
EMEA’s final chapter of VCT 2025 begins on July 16th with the Stage 2 competition. The winner and second place will directly qualify for VALORANT Champions in September. Moreover, FUT may also qualify through VCT EMEA Points, which are given to teams based on performances throughout the year.
Currently placing sixth on the regional Points leaderboard, FUT would have to climb at least two ranks to receive a Champions slot via points alone.
FUT’s first Stage 2 match will take place on July 17th at 4 pm BST against Ascension 2024 team Gentle Mates.
