Passion UA bring in new captain Topa

4-1-2025 19:48

The Ukrainian squad has found its replacement for fear, but is still one man short ahead of the new season.

Passion UA have announced the addition of Oleksii "⁠Topa⁠" Topchiienko to their roster.

The new member will assume in-game leadership of the squad, replacing Rodion "⁠fear⁠" Smyk in the role after it was announced that the zealous former captain was leaving the team in anticipation of making a move up the ranks.

Passion UA bid farewell to fear

Topa has been plying his trade on the lower tiers since 2018. He started out as a member of two academy squads, Windigo Academy and NAVI Junior, before jumping from team to team in 2021-2022, most notably taking part in the IEM Rio 2022 RMR with FANTASY.

The 25-year-old last represented IKLA alongside the likes of Michał "⁠MICHU⁠" Müller and Jonas "⁠Lekr0⁠" Olofsson. His year-long tenure there ended at the beginning of 2024 after the organization ceased operations, and he has since struggled to find a new home.

He now joins Passion UA as part of an overhaul of the squad. They are still missing the final piece after Vsevolod "⁠s-chilla⁠" Shchurov decided to take a break from competing, citing the demanding routine the team maintained throughout the year.

s-chilla leaves Passion UA

"Being able to represent Ukraine is deeply meaningful to me, and I'll give my all to live up to this opportunity. I'm grateful for this chance and excited to show what we can achieve together," Topa said on X.

Passion UA's roster is:

Dmytro "⁠jambo⁠" Semera
Nikita "⁠jackasmo⁠" Skyba
Eduard "⁠zeRRoFIX⁠" Petrovskyi
Oleksii "⁠Topa⁠" Topchiienko

Mikhaylo "⁠Kane⁠" Blagin (coach)

gl!

2025-01-04 19:49

+Kvem

mid

Sort of insane stats for an IGL?

2025-01-04 19:50

2 replies

It is based off of just two games. Not hating on the guy or anything, just saying.

2025-01-04 19:52

1 reply

Indeed. He´s pretty unimpressive as a fragger and has always been a role/support element in his teams so it´s only natural he became an IGL to extend his career (no shame in being smart/objective). He will more likely frag decently for an IGL but don´t expect to see carry performances/tactics from him. Overall, unless he develops a lot or Kane´s system is so good that it can survive without fear (I doubt either) he will be a downgrade over fear meaning even more weight on Jackasmo/Jambo. Unless the last player is a substantial firepower upgrade I only see them dropping in the rankings.

2025-01-04 20:18

chopped chin (cc) so tuff

I studied bro.

2025-01-04 20:35

The fact that out of all the players on passion UA jambo is still there is crazy to me. The kid has so much potential. Fnatic where are you ?

2025-01-04 19:51

3 replies

jambo is going to fnatic probably as they have nawk on loan only and as fnatic getting fear already supposedly

2025-01-04 20:04

i dont think passion gonna alow jambo to leave now since they already lost 2 players and they might lose all their ranking points. So I think maybe only in 6 months

2025-01-04 20:10

Jambo stays in Passion for a half a year, I guess. Wish he’ll join some t1-t2 team in the nearest future

2025-01-04 20:16

Indians come here: Lund ka Topa

2025-01-04 19:55

Topa Chico goat drink

2025-01-04 19:57

Deserves his chance

2025-01-04 20:03

gl PUA

fear >

2025-01-04 20:06

Known 322 player

2025-01-04 20:32

fnatic not getting jambo then? :(

2025-01-04 20:45

they still could. It is not known whether those are the only changes

2025-01-04 21:13

the worst captain they could pick lol, even cptkurtka is better

2025-01-04 20:47

cptkurtka is not an igl -_- and he already has a team

2025-01-04 21:14

cptkurtka's not an IGL

2025-01-04 21:33

Not even arrival of Kvem will save them now, RIP Passion

2025-01-04 20:52

2025-01-04 21:20

topo topa

2025-01-04 21:24

I would have rather them get a younger player tbh but I trust kanes judgement.

Well they could grab someone from B8 like headtr1ck

2025-01-04 21:37

Why would headtr1ck downgrade? + He's AWP. Jambo is AWP? And head has been awfully lately.

2025-01-05 09:47

b8 0-3 at rmr passion 2-3 at major DOWNGRADE?!??!?!

2025-01-05 10:19

Headtr1ck is not a dedicated awper. He can awp and rifle as well. When you have jambo that is an insane awper you can go with the rifle. Headtr1ck will bring some experience to the table plus he is only 20 yo. Also they can sign kvem who is 100% rifler

2025-01-05 12:01