Riot Games has confirmed that French organisation Gentle Mates will join the VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) EMEA for the 2026 season, filling a vacancy left after the publisher terminated the partnership agreement with Movistar KOI a month earlier.
The termination was cited as being due to a breach of contractual obligations, with Movistar KOI’s Co-owner, Ibai Llanos, later stating the decision was influenced by the team’s “underperformance both competitively and commercially.”
Also read: Riot Games removes Movistar KOI from VCT EMEA
In a statement on X, Gentle Mates Managing Director Marceau ‘Placido’ Lambert commented on the announcement, noting “Valorant is part of Gentle Mates’ DNA.” He stated that since their ascent via Ascension, the organisation has brought “a strong identity, a dedicated community, and a unique energy to the league.”
At the announcement, Riot provided details of the selection process: ten teams from the VCT ecosystem were invited to participate, including previous Visitor Teams and the 2025 VALORANT Ascension contenders. Nine teams responded to the invitation.
All applicants were required to submit a formal proposal, which was evaluated against a set of criteria. These included organisational goals for the 2026 season, collaboration and strategic alignment, operational readiness, competitive plans and player support systems, and community resonance with an ability to generate fandom.
After review, Gentle Mates achieved the highest overall score. As a result, the organisation has been offered a one-year contract that will run through the end of 2026, coinciding with the conclusion of all current VCT EMEA partnership agreements.
The league’s structure for 2026 will see two additional teams promoted into VCT EMEA following the VALORANT Ascension EMEA tournament later this year, maintaining a total of twelve teams in the competition.
