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VCT EMEA Kickoff 2026: NAVI and Gentle Mates Secure Upper Bracket Victories

Posted : 21 January 2026

The VCT EMEA Kickoff 2026 got off to an electrifying start as NAVI and Gentle Mates claimed victories in their opening matches. Both teams have advanced to the next round of the Upper Bracket, with NAVI set to face Team Heretics and Gentle Mates scheduled against GIANTX. Meanwhile, the losing teams—Karmine Corp and FUT Esports—will continue in the Middle Bracket starting January 21st.

NAVI dominated their clash against Karmine Corp, beginning on Split, NAVI’s map pick. They surged to a 7‑2 lead in the first half before Karmine Corp briefly fought back with three consecutive rounds. However, NAVI regained control, winning five of the first seven rounds in the second half to reach match point.

 Despite Karmine Corp’s final push, NAVI closed the map 13‑11. The second map, Haven, saw NAVI maintain early momentum with another 7‑2 start. Karmine Corp managed to win a few rounds but could not overcome the deficit, allowing NAVI to secure a 13‑7 victory and a clean 2‑0 series win. Uğur ‘Ruxic‘ Güç was the standout player, finishing with a 1.28 rating and a 37/25/13 KDA.

Gentle Mates also returned to VCT with a commanding 2‑0 win over FUT Esports. After a challenging 2025 season and a complete roster overhaul, Gentle Mates debuted with a new lineup led by Patrik ‘Minny‘ Hušek.

On their first map, Abyss, Gentle Mates quickly jumped to a 4‑0 lead, but FUT Esports responded with four straight rounds, ending the half at 7‑5. In the second half, Gentle Mates regained dominance, winning the final rounds to take the map 13‑8.

Their map pick, Split, showcased similar dominance, with Gentle Mates leading 8‑4 at halftime and closing the match 13‑6. IGL Patryk ‘starxo‘ Kopczyński posted the highest rating of 1.31, while FUT’s duelist Doğan ‘xeus‘ Gözgen impressed with the highest ACS of 240.

Round two of the Upper Bracket promises more high-stakes action, with NAVI facing Team Heretics and Gentle Mates going up against GIANTX on January 22nd. All matches will be broadcast live on the VCT EMEA Twitch and YouTube channels, offering fans an opportunity to catch every moment of the action

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