Gentle Mates returns to VCT EMEA

#1

CongoBat

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Gentle Mates ComeBack

#60

Ryuukami

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who would've thought, nobody saw this coming at all

#71

DSBY

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riot has a fr*nch preference

#80

NebularCarina

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at least it's not a Falcons preference

#2

catNmouse

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Wow what a big surprise

#3

Ross

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This wasn’t biased at all

#36

Yanko

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For the right reasons

#54

Ross

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Debatable, seems like koi was a scapegoat for this to happen. If m8s stayed in, they would have never found a reason to flag koi to kick them out (assuming koi stayed in).

#81

Orfeass

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Breach of contract by the owner, consistently bad performances and low or lowest sales and viewership are not reason enough?

#82

Ross

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Reading comprehension left the chat

#86

Breloof

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I think the point is while kicking KOI was perfectly valid from Riot according to the partnership contract, the only reason they actually did kick them (instead of for example giving them an ultimatum of some sorts) was to bring M8 in.

#93

smartest

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You’d have a point of riot didn’t flag these concerns long ago 🤤🤤

There was just a lack of communication between esports management and Ibai

#94

Breloof

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I mean like I said, the removal of KOI is perfectly valid. I just think the M8 situation was likely something that contributed to the exact course of action here.

#95

Kkduka

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Just accept it bro koi was the scapegoat for M8 bcz M8 and koi gave the same performance red carpet and also there was no publicly released warning to them so they just picked a reason and kicked koi

#96

Breloof

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That's literally what I'm saying.

Although the red carpet doesn't mean shit, and warnings would never be public. They have gotten warnings in the past.

#4

Raijin05

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We will win Champs

#44

diffed

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Yes bro, you already have a red carpet and all

#75

neuroniumtwistanium

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If only maps were till 12 rounds

#5

cameran

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VAMOS

GENTLE MATES ARE WINNING IT ALL

#9

catNmouse

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Undeserved slot, should’ve went a real organization like Apeks

#27

Vyse-Fan_In-more-than-one

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So cool...

#30

Snommymommy

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I mean i dont think Apeks was gonna get it either way after looking so bad last season. Tho i dont think M8 was the best choice either

#61

Lucrix

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how many times do people have to tell you guys: the selection is not based off of performance. M8 are a massive french org, ofc rito wants them in. and koi was not the scapegoat(referencing #54) bc ibai is like the number one streamer/influencer in spain

#87

Breloof

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Ibai isn't just the number one streamer in Spain, he was the number one streamer in the world (by Twitch followers) until recently. Now he's second behind Kai Cenat, but still, massive.

On the other hand, M8s clout specifically wrt Valorant is massive, and in that regard, they're definitely an upgrade over KOI, who despite Ibai's presence never had as much of a fanbase (plus Ibai barely costreamed Valorant this year, so harnessing that popularity wasn't even that easy recently).

It's very possible that they would have kicked literally any org for M8, and only went with KOI because all the other orgs held up the deal convincingly. I wouldn't necessarily discount that possibility just because Ibai is very popular.

#65

Grabener1

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No, defenetly shouldnt have. I'm just saying, they won not a single match in 2025.

#6

Number_1_Sheydos_Fan

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what a shocker!

#7

XOH

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Whoa!

#8

pkkkk

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Insert that one speed ballandor suprised meme
Wow i was really shocked.

#10

FancyPancy

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The mates are back!

#11

Lyxium

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no

#12

dimmed

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Missed you, EMEA wasn't the same without you

#13

J0zza

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aint no way

#55

deflinger

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the flairs are back

#14

N1TF

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Money speak 🗣️

#31

lexover

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they would've gone with falcons if that was all

#73

TP_Wasabi

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I don't think falcons can compete as the linked to Saudi government and Val doesn't do teams linked to governments

#90

tonyhart

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this could change because riot literally change their stance on gambling

they let saudi permit to host EWC, so it maybe change in the future

#72

TP_Wasabi

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Money talks

#15

FrogGrenade

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Is Gentle Mates a really established org? Not really in the loop

#18

cloudberry

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I'm gonna give you the Twitter followers because idk how else to statistically measure how popular an org is

BBL Esports: ~160K
Gentle Mates: ~300K
GIANTX: ~400K
Karmine Corp: ~555K
Team Liquid: ~760K
Team Vitality: ~770K
Natus Vincere: ~800K
Team Heretics: ~1M
FNATIC: ~1.7M

#24

FrogGrenade

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Thank you. I am curious if a different org wants it and deserves it more. For example in NA EG and Furia need the boot but the esports economy is down so besides G2, I dont know who would replace them.

#42

Sk00d

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Optic maybe?

#48

midzera

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There are honestly a lot of orgs that could enter various Valorant leagues, but a lot of these teams have just dropped in value. It just seems like a lot of teams have made terrible returns on their investment by having rosters which don't amount to much.

Side note about Gentle Mates: Squeezie is pretty big in the French streaming scene and has a lot of passion for Valorant so he might be a good fit for supporting M8s in franchising even if they might not succeed. As for Americas, G2 are so much more deserving of a franchising slot at this point. The main issue though is that there are already 5 NA orgs, 3 Brazilian orgs and 2 LATAM orgs. Maybe if EG go bust, G2 will hop in.

#62

AyakaLoyalist

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Reminder that G2 is an EMEA org.

#69

midzera

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An EMEA org with an NA roster. The point is that the Americas league is meant to be a balance between South America and North America and G2, whilst more deserving of a franchise spot than other orgs, should only be able to replace another North American roster-fielding org such as EG, 100T, NRG, SEN or C9.

#16

Galactc

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Could have been someone cooler but I guess we get more shit management yay

#29

Congo1

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this comment makes 0 sense

#85

DiaKilla236

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Now the balancing in EMEA is completely off... 3 french orgs is insane, yet nothing for Germany or northern Europe, nothing for Italy, no Africa... No Poland...

#88

Congo1

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well... france has some of the best orgs in the world it is what it is. Especially in terms of viewership Mates and KC are top of the league. Italy has no fanbase. Africa neither.

If you'd change the mix you'd get Fokus and force elias to costream that would be huge and one mena org.

#17

Chxrry

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Woah didn't see this coming!

#19

AekaMino

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Wp Squeezie, you just have to not be deadlast rn

#20

cristiadu

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yay they failed successfully this year, I guess.

RIOT and transparency are becoming enemies lately seems like.

#22

N1TF

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I mean Faria is transparent but there is some level of corruption going on surely

#35

Venom20441

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How is removing koi when they violated their contract and bringing in a team that tried and cared about the scene corruption lmao

#45

N1TF

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I mean their way of handling stuffs ofc koi breached contract but surely for choosing orgs you had more options and still went with m8

#67

fr0ster0p

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they gone with who full fill all contract M8 have streamers who co-stream their game m8 has big french audience and M8 owner are more passinate about them then Koi who is just in big support for LOL esport

#21

31Raven

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who would have seen this one coming

wishing it was anyone interesting tho not mates for another year of 1-12

#33

Venom20441

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M8’s made aggressive moves to be good they were just historic chokers how is that not interesting? Who would you rather had ?

#23

Monsteiur

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Everyone, act surprised

#25

noem

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:O what a surprise

#26

Garaf

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Honestly L move, demoting a team for bad performance and than as a reaction promote a team that lost the slot due to being to bad the normal way

#28

Effluxi

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they demoted koi because dumbass org owner can't fulfill the literal only reason in the contract they signed the org

it's not deep

#32

Venom20441

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Do not understand why people are acting like this is a bad move, M8’s owners actually cared about the scene and the team, they invested in new talent half way through the year and were at games. They were exactly what we should want in a team even if the didn’t win every game ur always gonna have teams at the bottom and the only reason they weren’t at least in ascension is cause they were historic chokers that’s not management’s fault lol. It’s obviously not surprising but it’s a W move

#34

Yistyy

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L

should have been a german or cis org

#37

deadbuch

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who were the other orgs in competition

#39

zafjohn

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Basically the Ascension orgs and some big orgs that wanted representation in T1

#38

Juniper_Justice

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if goked stays don't expect M8 to win more than 2 games next year

#40

HER01K

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truly a twist only m. night shyamalan himself could have predicted

#41

diffed

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NO WAY

#43

Sk00d

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would honestly prefer to keep KOI but it's a good move from riot

#46

Jezy

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Is this hard confirmed or just speculation? It's been in the air WAYYY to long I dont think we actually know till the trade window opens
Edit: yes this officially confirmed by riot

#47

WatsomN

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tbh i dont know if this an L or W, bcs it really is unfair for KOI to get kicked all of a sudden without previous notice

but W at the same time because m8 really did bring more to the table compared to koi (french viewership)

#49

Sakazuki

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we are so back

#50

Ryllae

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KOI has been a bad team since joining. Unfortunately, they haven't been able to progress. Their roster is inadequate, which affects their EMEA rankings. Their GM is playing a more open and progressive style for new players. The right decision.

#51

Repids

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Can’t wait to watch them have the same performance and win absolutely nothing. W rito

#52

Luceus

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Only came back because of their player. Or they are William Afton

#53

SadHik

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Let's go M8 !

#56

minusgrad

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well well well who would have expected that

#57

SudokuDude

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Leo was making paper planes with the other applications. Except for Falcons for obvious reasons.

#79

9wntr

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nah there was a zero percent chance of falcons
they already got kicked out of t2
if riot didnt want em in t2 why would they want em in t1

#83

SudokuDude

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I was making a 9/11 joke with Falcons

#84

9wntr

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oh
i thought u meant falcons were paying 20 gazillion dollars for the slot

#58

m0rtem

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act surprised

#59

MerkFreeks

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not surprised at all

#63

jeyem1

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the power of money

#68

Effluxi

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Power of following your contract, KOI had a lot to give too but dude couldn't get paid to sit in front of a screen and barely watch for a few hours

#64

Parzelel

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What a shocker. Who could've guessed

#66

borabora69

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interesting, "competitive" slot, name the other 8 teams

#70

Re2

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im so shocked wow

#74

Notthing

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omg M8 im so suprised

#76

Samayal

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Corruption.

#77

Bernazoka

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😂

#78

NebularCarina

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Samayal

Flag: Spain
Registered: November 19, 2021
Last post: October 8, 2025 at 5:28 AM
Posts: 1

lmao cope

#89

tonyhart

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"competitive application process in which nine teams were considered for the vacant slot"

nine team lul

#91

Lordsalih

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do i put back gentlemates flair back ?

#92

Lordsalih

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no need to answer i already did hehe

#97

sher10ck

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Riot should simply put relegation in place (like in EPL). Partner team or not. And the relegated team can play ascension for the slot. I think last 2 should be relegated to ascension. If they win they can surely come back.