M8 starxo: “I really have big faith in this team, and I think we can do a lot of damage.”

Patryk "starxo" Kopczyński returns to the main stage of VCT EMEA with Gentle Mates (M8). After a long journey in Tier 2, he comes back stronger than ever, fully prepared to lead the French organization toward qualifying for an international event for the first time.

In an interview with esports.gg, starxo reflected on the Upper Bracket loss against BBL Esports and shared his thoughts on being with Gentle Mates, playing alongside teammates he loves. He also discussed the team’s chance to qualify for Masters Santiago, a goal they successfully secured in the very next match.

Gentle Mates were on the brink of making history, and this time, they didn’t let the opportunity slip away. After being relegated in 2025, many believed their return to the top tier would take some time. Doubts surrounded the team, and expectations were low.

Just a few months later, they came back and secured the vacant spot in VCT EMEA. A new roster took shape, with the sole exception of Patrik "minny" Hušek. When Kickoff began, Gentle Mates looked stronger than ever, playing with renewed confidence.

While they couldn't stop BBL Esports from taking the Kickoff trophy home, they were able to defeat Fnatic and secure their first international qualification.

After the match against BBL Esports, M8 starxo admitted that he had anticipated a tough challenge, especially due to their unique and aggressive playstyle. “They’re really young, and they have nothing to lose. You can see how fearless they are in the way they play, even when they’re losing. That made them very hard to stop,” he explained.

He also took much of the responsibility for the defeat upon himself. The in-game leader openly admitted to several individual mistakes, including his inability to find solutions to stop the BBL’s momentum.

Against Fnatic, there was little room for major adjustments. With such a hectic schedule, M8 starxo believed the matchup would suit them better, particularly because Fnatic’s style is more structured and less chaotic than BBL Esports.

Securing a victory over Fnatic was no easy feat. Everything was decided in the last map, in the third overtime of the series. Martin "marteen" Pátek broke the all-time kill record, scoring 126 kills. Gentle Mates were one step away from their first international qualification, and they didn't lose that match.

For M8 starxo, this was more than just another match. It was his ticket back to an international event after three long years without attending one. Back in 2021, he lifted the VALORANT Champions trophy with Ascend, being the first team to win the title. After that moment, starxo came back to Tier 2. Only in 2021 did he come back to the main league, playing for KOI until July 2024, when he ended up leaving the team.

Since then, starxo has been dedicated to getting out of Tier 2 and finally showing his value on the main stage. Only in 2026 did he join Gentle Mates, and the rest is history.

"As soon as we see someone getting out of control, we help him out," starxo stated. "The chemistry we have been building is amazing, and I believe we are going in a good direction with this roster."

For starxo, having teammates who can truly rely on one another is what makes this roster so dangerous. “Even players without much experience, like Bipo, are constantly motivating the others. He could be stressed, he could be shaking, but he was the one giving energy to everyone else,” starxo stated. “I really have big faith in this team, and I think we can do a lot of damage.”

Starxo said he hasn’t seen much change in his personality since 2021. He added that he still tries to bring the same energy and goofiness to the stage that defined him early in his career. Although he acknowledged the many setbacks over the years, he believes he has stayed true to himself throughout it all. “Gentle Mates made me come back alive, and I’m grateful for that,” he concluded.

The first big challenge on the international stage will be EDG, the 2024 Champions winners. Can Gentle Mates surprise everyone in their international debut? The official schedules have yet to be revealed, but here are the upcoming matches for the Masters Santiago Swiss Stage:

The tournament will start on Feb. 28. All of the matches will be streamed on the official VALORANT Esports Twitch and YouTube channels. The Pick'Ems are already open, so don't miss your chance to predict which teams will qualify for the Playoffs Stage.