A new era for Fnatic’s mid lane
Fnatic has officially completed its League of Legends roster for the 2026 season, announcing the signing of Greek mid laner Vladimiros ‘Vladi’ Kourtidis. The move marks the final piece of the organisation’s rebuild ahead of the inaugural LEC Versus competition, setting the stage for a fresh chapter in Fnatic’s long esports history.
A new era begins.
Welcome @Vladi1v9 as our Mid Laner for 2026! pic.twitter.com/B4WMARCzqV
— FNATIC (@FNATIC) December 17, 2025
The announcement was made on December 17, with Fnatic welcoming Vladi as its new starting mid laner for 2026. He becomes the fifth and final member of the lineup that will compete in LEC Versus, a brand new tournament format kicking off the European League of Legends calendar.
Vladi joins after strong year with Karmine Corp
Vladi arrives at Fnatic after spending the 2025 season with French esports organisation Karmine Corp. Over the past 12 months, he enjoyed one of the strongest periods of his career, winning the LEC 2025 Winter Split and finishing second at the 2025 First Stand Tournament.
His performances across the year helped cement his reputation as one of Europe’s most promising mid lane talents, making him a key target for Fnatic as the organisation reshaped its roster.
Reuniting with Empyros on the big stage
The signing also reunites Vladi with fellow Greek player Panagiotis ‘Empyros’ Tantis, who was unveiled as Fnatic’s top laner just days earlier on December 15. The duo previously played together under the Riddle Esports banner in 2022, and now come together again to represent one of Europe’s biggest League of Legends organisations.
Vladi becomes the second Greek player in Fnatic’s starting lineup, highlighting the organisation’s confidence in the region’s emerging talent.
Fnatic’s full LEC 2026 lineup revealed
With Vladi confirmed, Fnatic’s LEC roster for 2026 is now locked in. Alongside the new mid laner and Empyros in the top lane, the lineup also features Elias ‘Upset’ Lipp, Iván Martín ‘Razork’ Díaz, and Óscar ‘Oscarinin’ Muñoz Jiménez.
The roster blends experience with proven consistency, as Fnatic looks to bounce back from a mixed 2025 season. While the team finished all three LEC splits inside the top four, its year ended in disappointment after exiting the 2025 World Championship without a single match win.
Eyes on redemption in LEC Versus
Fnatic will begin its LEC Versus campaign against Los Ratones on January 17, aiming to start 2026 on the front foot. The stakes are high, with the winner of LEC Versus earning qualification for the 2026 First Stand Tournament, the first international League of Legends event of the year.
With Vladi carrying strong form from his time at Karmine Corp and the roster rebuild now complete, Fnatic will be hoping this new-look lineup can challenge at the top once again and deliver a deeper international run.