After being relegated, Gentle Mates make their comeback to VCT EMEA, replacing MKOI, which was removed for breaching its contract.
At the beginning of August 2025, the French organization Gentle Mates was relegated from VCT EMEA. They finished the main tournament with a record of three wins and 10 losses. A month later, Riot Games ended its partnership with Movistar KOI, creating an opportunity for another team to join.
Gentle Mates rejoins VCT EMEA
Riot Games announced on Sept. 6 that it removed Movistar KOI from the league for breaching its contractual agreement. To fill the vacant slot, the league selected Gentle Mates to join the competition, as it was announced on Oct. 7, two months after the team's relegation.
Although MKOI did not officially respond, they shared the part of the video where Ibai Llanos, one of the co-founders of the team, discussed the possible reintegration of Gentle Mates. He initially suggested that the decision to remove MKOI was a strategy to reintegrate the French organization. However, he acknowledged the team’s poor management and underwhelming performance since 2022.
Ibai also stated that the organization has a significant fan base and a strong influence on VCT EMEA viewership. According to Esports Charts data, three of the five most-watched matches of VCT EMEA Stage 2 featured Gentle Mates. In fact, their match against Team Heretics, which peaked at 200,772 viewers, was the second most-viewed of the stage. Meanwhile, it trailed only the Playoffs clash between BBL and Team Liquid, which reached 273,503 viewers.
The selection process
Riot Games explained that the evaluation process was “extensive.” In total, nine teams were assessed based on a comprehensive set of criteria. Furthermore, they stated, “This decision follows a thorough and competitive application process, with ten teams from the VALORANT Esports EMEA ecosystem invited to participate. This included previous Visitor Teams and contenders for the 2025 VALORANT Ascension,” as noted in the press release.
To ensure transparency in the selection process, Riot Games also disclosed the criteria for team selection. As a result, Gentle Mates achieved the highest overall score.
- Organizational goals for the 2026 season
- Collaboration, strategic alignment, and channel strategy
- Operational readiness
- Competitive plans and player support systems
- Community resonance and ability to generate fandom
The French organization has been granted a one-year partnership slot through the end of 2026. After the upcoming VALORANT Ascension EMEA event later this year, two additional teams will earn promotions, maintaining a total of 12 teams in the VCT EMEA league.
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