BerLIN is making a comeback to FunPlus Phoenix just a month after the organization announced his retirement.
CHINA – FunPlus Phoenix have announced the re-addition of Zhang “BerLIN” Bo-lin to the team. The 21-year-old in-game leader had been part of the organization since early 2022, initially competing with the team under FPX.ZHUQUE, before stepping down and “retiring” after the Kickoff event this year. He was replaced by Yang “Shr1mp” Yong at the time, but now reclaims his position, taking the place of the very player that took his spot.
BerLIN was one of the founding members of FPX’s original Chinese roster, ZHUQUE, during a time when the organization was still competing internationally with its Masters Copenhagen-winning EMEA squad in 2022.
Under his leadership, FPX.ZHUQUE challenged EDward Gaming’s dominance and eventually triumphed over them at the 2022 FGC VALORANT Invitational Epilogue. Their success also earned the ZHUQUE roster a promotion to become 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. Although the team’s international runs often ended earlier than hoped, their performance at Masters Shanghai stood out, where they secured wins over FUT Esports and took eventual finalists Gen.G and Team Heretics to nail-biting 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.
During BerLIN’s short absence, FPX still struggled to find form, missing out again on the upcoming Toronto Masters and managing wins only against lower-ranked teams such as TYLOO and Titan Esports Club in Stage 1.
BerLIN’s return to the server will begin this May, with FPX competing in the CN Evolution Series Act II and VCT CN Stage 2.
FunPlus Phoenix are once again:
- Zhang “AAAAY” Yang
- Kale “autumn” Dunne
- Qu “Life” Donghao
- Wang “yosemite” Lei
- Zhang “BerLIN” Bo-lin
- Yao “York” Kun (Coach)
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Cover photo courtesy of VCT CN
