Deng “NaThanD” Senqiao has officially parted ways with FunPlus Phoenix (FPX) following an underwhelming run in the 2025 VCT CN Kickoff.
CHINA – FunPlus Phoenix (FPX) have announced the departure of Deng “NaThanD” Senqiao (邓森侨) from his head coach position, ending his two-year tenure since his appointment in January 2023.
Under his leadership, FPX reached their peak in 2024, finishing as runners-up in Kickoff, Stage 1, and Stage 2, securing spots at all three international events—Madrid, Shanghai, and Seoul. Their standout moment came at VALORANT Masters Shanghai, where they defeated FUT Esports 2-1 and pushed both Gen.G and Team Heretics, the eventual finalists, to the limit in intense three-map series.
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However, 2025 has gotten off to a rough start, with FPX failing to qualify for their first international event since Champions Los Angeles after a 5th-6th place finish in Kickoff. Despite experimenting with bold and unconventional compositions—some successful, others less so—the team now appears to be shifting direction in hopes of reclaiming their position as one of CN’s best teams alongside EDward Gaming and eventually surpassing them.
FPX are not the only team making early-season coaching changes, as FNATIC recently benched head coach Chris “Elmapuddy” Tebbit.
FunPlus Phoenix will return to action at the CN Evolution Series Act I, but it remains unclear whether they will bring in a new coach or promote Yao “York” Kun to the head coach position.
FunPlus Phoenix are now:
- Zhang “AAAAY” Yang
- Chang “BerLIN” Polin
- Kale “autumn” Dunne
- Qu “Life” Donghao
- Wang “yosemite” Lei
- Yao “York” Kun (Coach)
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Cover photo courtesy of David Lee/Riot Games
