FunPlus Phoenix’s in-game leader, Zhang “BerLIN” Polin, has officially stepped down from the team, bringing an end to his playing career.
CHINA – FunPlus Phoenix have announced the retirement of Zhang “BerLIN” Polin, marking the end of a career that began in July 2020.
The decision follows BerLIN’s request to step away from the team due to personal wishes, according to the announcement. With BerLIN’s departure from FPX, Zhang “AAAAY” Yang is now the sole remaining player from the original 2022 ZHUQUE roster.
BerLIN first made a name for himself in 2020 during the First Strike HK/TW event. His breakthrough came in 2021 when his team, KPC, secured a spot at VCT Masters SEA Stage 1, ultimately finishing 3rd-4th. As KPC consistently trailed behind regional rivals CBT Gaming, BerLIN eventually joined them in mid-2021. Together, they secured qualification for the 2021 VALORANT Challengers SEA Stage 3 Playoffs.
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On an upward trajectory, BerLIN signed with FunPlus Phoenix’s Chinese roster, ZHUQUE, while the organization was still fielding its Masters Copenhagen-winning EMEA lineup. Transitioning to the CN region, BerLIN and FPX.ZHUQUE challenged EDward Gaming’s dominance, ultimately defeating them at the 2022 FGC VALORANT Invitational Epilogue. This victory, along with their strong performances, led to the ZHUQUE roster being promoted as FPX’s main team the following season.
BerLIN was the mastermind behind FPX’s qualification for VALORANT Champions Los Angeles in 2023, as well as all three international events last year—Masters Madrid, Masters Shanghai, and Champions Seoul. While their results against international competition fell short, their strongest showing came on home soil at Masters Shanghai. Despite finishing 9th-10th, FPX managed to defeat FUT and pushed both eventual finalists, Gen.G and Team Heretics, to close three-map series.
However, more recently, FunPlus Phoenix faced an early exit at the 2025 VCT CN Kickoff, failing to qualify for VALORANT Masters Bangkok—marking their first absence from an international event since Masters Tokyo in 2023. Just a month after the departure of head coach Deng “NaThanD” Senqiao, the team faces a major turning point as they reset and move in a new direction heading into VCT CN Stage 1.
It’s still unclear who will step into BerLIN’s shoes, with their next match scheduled in less than two weeks against Titan Esports Club.
FunPlus Phoenix are now:
- Zhang “AAAAY” Yang
- Kale “autumn” Dunne
- Qu “Life” Donghao
- Wang “yosemite” Lei
- Yao “York” Kun (Coach)
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Cover photo courtesy of Liu YiCun/Riot Games
