sScary is set to return to pro play with FunPlus Phoenix, linking up with his former coach LEGIJA once more.
CHINA – FunPlus Phoenix have announced the additions of Natchaphon “sScary” Matarat and Ou “Setrod” Taigeng to their roster for the 2026 VCT season. The duo will replace Kale “Autumn” Dunne, who is currently competing with Global Esports’ OFF//SEASON roster, and Wang “yosemite” Lei, who recently joined Wolves Esports.
For sScary, this signing marks a comeback story. The Thai veteran retired at the start of 2025 due to a persistent shoulder injury, wrapping up his final chapter with BLEED in the VCT Pacific League in 2024. His return to professional play not only marks a new beginning but also reunites him with a familiar face: former BLEED coach Nikola “LEGIJA” Ninić, who took on FPX’s head coach role last June.
The two previously worked closely during BLEED’s Challengers and Ascension campaigns. “When sScary asked two months ago if he could compete in VCT again, it was a no-brainer. The quality he brings in and out of the game made my decision easy. After our rough season in BLEED, I wanted another dance with him. Let’s make it count. Welcome to the team, kub.”
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Widely regarded as one of Thailand’s best, sScary made his international debut with X10 Esports at Masters Reykjavík 2021 and later competed at Champions Berlin 2021, where the team famously upset Envy (later OpTic Gaming).
In 2022, he qualified for every international event, Reykjavík, Copenhagen, and Istanbul, before moving to the MY/SG Challengers circuit with Bleed Esports. There, he dominated the 2023 season, winning both Challengers splits and ultimately securing qualification to the VCT Pacific League by winning Ascension Pacific 2023. His unforgettable 1v4 clutch against SCARZ in the Bangkok grand final remains one of the region’s most iconic plays.
However, the transition into tier-one proved difficult. BLEED struggled throughout the 2024 season, securing only a single match win against DetonatioN FocusMe. The organization’s eventual removal from the league pushed most of the roster into free agency. While several players quickly found new homes, sScary chose to step away from competition to focus on rehabilitating his shoulder injury.
Meanwhile, Setrod remains a relatively unknown quantity on the international stage. His career so far has largely unfolded within the tier-three TW/HK ecosystem, where he competed in events such as The Major Six and the SOOP Elite Cup under the team name GOOD BOY.
For FPX, the decision to bring in a player with limited exposure outside of the local tier-three circuit is an intriguing gamble. Whether Setrod can adapt to the demands of tier-one competition and translate his potential into consistent impact remains one of the team’s biggest question marks heading into the 2026 season.
sScary will not be eligible to compete for FPX in the upcoming CN Evolution Series Epilogue, as his visa is still being processed. In his absence, assistant coach Yao “York” Kun will step in as a substitute for the event.
FunPlus Phoenix currently have:
- Zhang “AAAAY” Yang
- Zhang “BerLIN” Bolin
- Qu “Life” Donghao
- Nutchapon “sScary” Matarat
- Ou “Setrod” Taigeng
- Nikola “LEGIJA” Ninić (Head Coach)
- Yao “York” Kun (Assistant Coach)
- Guan “9hr” Haoran (Team Manager)
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Cover photo courtesy of VCT Pacific
