NAVI and Gentle Mates Sweep VCT EMEA Kickoff 2026 Openers in Berlin

Published: Jan 21, 2026

NAVI and Gentle Mates launched the VCT EMEA Kickoff 2026 with commanding 2-0 victories over Karmine Corp and FUT Esports on Day 1, securing spots in the Upper Bracket.

NAVI 2-0 Karmine Corp

Split: 13-11 (NAVI surged to a 7-2 halftime lead, fended off a comeback, and clinched after intense second half exchanges).
Haven: 13-7 (NAVI dominated early at 7-2, holding firm despite Karmine Corp’s late five round push).

Standout: ‘Ruxic’ topped with a 1.28 rating and 37/25/13 KDA.

Gentle Mates 2-0 FUT Esports

Abyss: 13-8 (Gentle Mates blitzed to 4-0, held a 7-5 halftime edge, then shut out FUT post side switch).
Split: 13-6 (Gentle Mates led 8-4 at half, cruising to victory).

Standout: ‘starxo’ shone at 1.31 rating; FUT’s ‘xeus’ notched 240 ACS in defeat.

Karmine Corp and FUT Esports drop to the Middle Bracket starting January 21.

Upcoming Upper Bracket Round 2 (January 22)

NAVI vs. Team Heretics
Gentle Mates vs. GIANTX

Catch all action live on VCT EMEA’s Twitch and YouTube channels. These openers signal a fierce EMEA start to the 2026 VCT campaign.

Daniel Davis

Since: October 29, 2025

Hi, I’m Dan, an experienced esports journalist and author passionate about competitive gaming and digital culture. I specialize in titles like Counter Strike, Call of Duty, League of Legends, and Valorant. I’ve documented the rise of professional esports from local tournaments to global stages. With a sharp focus on player strategy, team chemistry, and the evolving industry landscape, I deliver in depth insight into the world’s most popular competitive games.

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