Fnatic Set to Bench Empyros and Search Korea for a Toplaner

Transfer Market

03 June 2026 14:15

As expected, some changes are necessary and this feels like one of them.

According to recent reports, Fnatic are preparing to bench Greek toplaner Panagiotis "Empyros" Tantis ahead of the LEC Summer Split, and are now on the hunt for a new player in the role. The move would bring an early end to Empyros' top-tier tenure after just two splits in his debut LEC season. Fnatic had handed him the starting spot this year as a rookie, with the team turning the page on nearly three years of Óscar "Oscarinin" Muñoz in the position.

A Difficult Debut Season

Empyros arrived with a strong ERL pedigree, having posted two third-place finishes in the LFL with Gentle Mates and reached the EMEA Masters quarterfinals before his promotion. In the LEC, though, he struggled to make an impact. He was frequently pressured in the laning phase, particularly against the league's stronger toplaners, and increasingly found himself pushed into low-economy, utility roles, with 13 of his 23 Spring Split games played on tanks. His difficulties were crystallised in Fnatic's elimination series against Team Vitality a month ago, a 2-1 defeat in which he fell three levels and 3,000 gold behind Kaan "Naak Nako" Okan inside the opening 15 minutes of the deciding game.

Looking to Korea Again

Fnatic are reportedly focusing their search on the LCK Challengers League (LCK CL), Korea's second tier, and have held talks with multiple Korean toplaners, though a European signing has not been ruled out. This would be the second consecutive year Fnatic has imported a Korean player for the Summer Split, after promoting Yoon "Poby" Sung-won from T1's academy roster last year, a player who has since moved to NAVI as a midlaner. It is a bit of a gamble to be honest.

The benching would leave Fnatic in a unique spot to say the least. Oscarinin, who was benched at the start of the year, remains under contract through 2026 and was unable to find a new team, meaning the organisation could carry three toplaners on its books. That sits awkwardly against a backdrop of financial strain, with Fnatic having begun the year with the smallest coaching staff in the LEC. The team did move to bolster its topside mid-season, adding former LEC toplaner Andrei "Odoamne" Pascu to the coaching staff in March.

A Worlds Streak on the Line

The stakes behind the reshuffle are significant for one of Europe's most storied organisations. Fnatic have qualified for nine consecutive League of Legends World Championships, never missing the event since 2016. That run is now in serious jeopardy after the team failed to reach the LEC's top six this split, and the toplane change appears to be an attempt to revive its qualification hopes before the opportunity slips away.

More:Tundra Esports Exits Dota 2 as Roster Moves to 1win

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03 June 2026 14:15

Tags: fnatic

As expected, some changes are necessary and this feels like one of them.

According to recent reports, Fnatic are preparing to bench Greek toplaner Panagiotis "Empyros" Tantis ahead of the LEC Summer Split, and are now on the hunt for a new player in the role. The move would bring an early end to Empyros' top-tier tenure after just two splits in his debut LEC season. Fnatic had handed him the starting spot this year as a rookie, with the team turning the page on nearly three years of Óscar "Oscarinin" Muñoz in the position.

A Difficult Debut Season

Empyros arrived with a strong ERL pedigree, having posted two third-place finishes in the LFL with Gentle Mates and reached the EMEA Masters quarterfinals before his promotion. In the LEC, though, he struggled to make an impact. He was frequently pressured in the laning phase, particularly against the league's stronger toplaners, and increasingly found himself pushed into low-economy, utility roles, with 13 of his 23 Spring Split games played on tanks. His difficulties were crystallised in Fnatic's elimination series against Team Vitality a month ago, a 2-1 defeat in which he fell three levels and 3,000 gold behind Kaan "Naak Nako" Okan inside the opening 15 minutes of the deciding game.

Looking to Korea Again

Fnatic are reportedly focusing their search on the LCK Challengers League (LCK CL), Korea's second tier, and have held talks with multiple Korean toplaners, though a European signing has not been ruled out. This would be the second consecutive year Fnatic has imported a Korean player for the Summer Split, after promoting Yoon "Poby" Sung-won from T1's academy roster last year, a player who has since moved to NAVI as a midlaner. It is a bit of a gamble to be honest.

The benching would leave Fnatic in a unique spot to say the least. Oscarinin, who was benched at the start of the year, remains under contract through 2026 and was unable to find a new team, meaning the organisation could carry three toplaners on its books. That sits awkwardly against a backdrop of financial strain, with Fnatic having begun the year with the smallest coaching staff in the LEC. The team did move to bolster its topside mid-season, adding former LEC toplaner Andrei "Odoamne" Pascu to the coaching staff in March.

A Worlds Streak on the Line

The stakes behind the reshuffle are significant for one of Europe's most storied organisations. Fnatic have qualified for nine consecutive League of Legends World Championships, never missing the event since 2016. That run is now in serious jeopardy after the team failed to reach the LEC's top six this split, and the toplane change appears to be an attempt to revive its qualification hopes before the opportunity slips away.

More:Tundra Esports Exits Dota 2 as Roster Moves to 1win

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