Sources: Derke contracts COVID prior to VCT Masters

Derke is well.
Photo via Riot Games

Fnatic VALORANT player Nikita “Derke” Sirmitev has recently contracted COVID-19, multiple sources close to the player told Dot Esports on March 31. 

Recommended Videos

Derke has to test negative for the virus within the next few days to be eligible to participate in VCT Masters, which is set to begin on April 10. This means it’s not guaranteed Derke will be ineligible to compete, contrary to a report by Dexerto journalist Arran “Halo” Spake and “Lembo.” 

Derke is well and is not experiencing major symptoms following his diagnosis, according to sources close to the player.

“There’s a big chance I’ll go, just relax and believe guys,” Derke said on Reddit shortly after news broke of his illness.

If Derke cannot attend the event, KOI duelist Joona “H1ber” Parviainen will play for Fnatic in his place, according to Lembo.

Fnatic recently suspended Russian player Andrew “braveaf” Gorchakov following comments surfacing in which he supposedly showed support for the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Braveaf made the comments on Feb. 24 and apologized on Twitter yesterday. 

Braveaf declined to comment when approached by Dot Esports. 

Fnatic is set to compete in the upcoming VCT Masters, which is the first international VALORANT event of the year. Fnatic qualified for the tournament following a third-place finish in the first stage of EMEA Challengers, which concluded on March 28. 

VCT Masters is set to begin on April 10 and conclude on April 24.


Dot Esports is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more
related content
Read Article When can Clove use their revive ultimate ability in VALORANT?
VALORANT agent Clove in the midst of casting their self-resurrection ultimate ability.
Read Article Discord adds official but expensive VALORANT profile cosmetics and effects to its store
Clove wallpaper from VALORANT
Read Article VALORANT players discover broken Clove interaction that leads to easy smoke kills
Clove in VALORANT
Related Content
Read Article When can Clove use their revive ultimate ability in VALORANT?
VALORANT agent Clove in the midst of casting their self-resurrection ultimate ability.
Read Article Discord adds official but expensive VALORANT profile cosmetics and effects to its store
Clove wallpaper from VALORANT
Read Article VALORANT players discover broken Clove interaction that leads to easy smoke kills
Clove in VALORANT
Author
George Geddes
George is an investigative journalist from the United Kingdom.