In a rare collapse during VCT EMEA: Stage 2, Gentle Mates lost three maps to three different teams, each after reaching match point.
Some fans called it cursed, and others are still trying to understand how this happened. Gentle Mates managed to lose three maps, with different teams, in a match point situation where they were winning by a big margin. Let's see what happened in the VCT EMEA: Stage 2.
Gentle Mates curse
The French organization was performing well in the VCT EMEA: Stage 2 when things took a turn for the worse. Their weird loss was against FUT Esports on Lotus. The teams were tied when they entered the third game, with Gentle Mates leading 12-6. It seemed like a victory was within reach, until it suddenly slipped away. When no one believed anymore, FUT Esports mounted a huge comeback on Gentle Mates and won the match by 16-14.
Seven days later, the same thing happened, this time with Team Heretics on Corrode. In the first match, Gentle Mates were in the lead by 12-4, when all of a sudden, Team Heretics switched everything and won by 14-12. After this match, Gentle Mates could not do a thing to avoid their destiny and lost another game.
Because things often come in threes, Gentle Mates has done it once more. On July 30, while playing on the map Lotus, the French team led 12-5 when BBL Esports staged an incredible comeback and won the second map. Three players from the BBL Esports team each surpassed the 20-kill mark during that match.
Despite these significant losses, the Gentle Mates matches have been the most viewed at the VCT EMEA: Stage 2 so far. The match against Team Heretics surpassed 200k viewers, which is a relatively high number for the tournament, especially during the Group Stage.
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What happens to Gentle Mates?
Gentle Mates are facing a tough challenge, as they have suffered three consecutive losses and are now unlikely to qualify for the VCT EMEA: Stage 2 Playoffs. To advance to the next phase, they needed to secure fourth place in Group Alpha, which is mathematically very difficult at this point.
During a recent livestream, the team's co-founder, Lucas “Squeezie” Auchar,d shared uncertainty about the team’s future in the VALORANT competitive scene. Reflecting on the challenges faced this season, he admitted, “There’s probably only a 5% chance we’ll be in VCT next year. This year just hasn’t worked out for us, and I’m not sure why. It’s really disappointing and I’m genuinely saddened by the situation.”
Squeezie's comments signal that Gentle Mates may not return to VALORANT’s top-tier competition in the upcoming season.
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