KC Sheydos Confident in Long-Term Growth Despite VCT EMEA Setback

Karmine Corp's star IGL Bogdan "Sheydos" Naumov remains bullish about his team's championship potential despite a rocky 2-1 loss to Team Liquid in the VCT EMEA Kickoff tournament. In an exclusive post-match interview, the Russian tactician revealed critical insights that Valorant bettors should note ahead of KC's lower bracket run.

Practice vs. Performance: The KC Disconnect

Sheydos pinpointed execution issues as KC's downfall: "If we play the same in officials as in practice, everything will be good. We lost crucial micro-situations – 5v3s, 4v2s – that never happen during our three months of preparation."

This performance gap creates intriguing betting dynamics. KC currently sits as +350 underdogs to win their next elimination match according to leading sportsbooks – potentially offering value if they unlock their scrim-level form. Our Valorant Predictions model tracks their adaptation progress closely.

![Sheydos directing KC during VCT EMEA match | Credit: Wojciech Wandzel/Riot Games]

IGL Transition & Strategic Adjustments

The former Gambit star addressed his role shift to in-game leader:

"When you become IGL, focus on the team first. Individual play follows. It's a new challenge, but with coach Engh and long-term vision, we'll peak when it matters."

Key betting factors to monitor:

• Anti-eco struggles: KC has lost 47% of advantageous situations (3+ player advantage)
• Map-specific agent picks: LewN's unconventional Jett on Abyss could become a niche strength
• Macro execution: Defense setups require urgent adaptation to meta compositions

The Road to Redemption

With KC now fighting through the lower bracket, Sheydos emphasized their championship timeline: "We accept this as growing pains. The season is long – our eyes remain on 2026 trophies."

Bettors should note KC's historical resilience in elimination matches (+1.5 map handicap could offer value). Track their evolving odds and matchup analysis via our AI Predictions engine.

Next Opportunity: KC faces elimination against Natus Vincere on February 28 – View Matches for live odds updates. Can Sheydos' leadership justify KC's preseason hype? The data suggests buying low before their inevitable upward trend.