NAVI and Gentle Mates win VCT EMEA Kickoff 2026 openers

VCT EMEA Kickoff 2026 has commenced with NAVI and Light Mates securing victories over Karmine Corp and FUT Esports on Day 1 of the occasion.

Each groups have superior to the subsequent spherical of the Higher Bracket, the place the organisations will battle in opposition to Workforce Heretics and GIANTX, respectively.

The shedding squads, alternatively, can be persevering with VCT EMEA Kickoff 2026 within the Center Bracket, beginning January twenty first.

The opening map, Cut up, was NAVI’s choose, and the roster was able to dominate on stage because it led 7-2 within the opening first half. That stated, Karmine Corp received three back-to-back rounds to succeed in a decent rating heading into the second half.

Nevertheless, the French crew was not capable of carry over that momentum, as NAVI claimed 5 of the primary seven rounds to succeed in match level. Karmine Corp as soon as once more fought again, however it wasn’t sufficient, with the Ukrainian organisation closing out map one 13-11.

Karmine Corp struggled closely on Haven, because the scoreline as soon as once more began 7-2 in NAVI’s favour. The crew tried to get well within the second half however managed to win solely 5 rounds, permitting NAVI to safe a 13-7 victory and lock down the collection 2-0.

Uğur ‘Ruxic‘ Güç was the highest-performing participant of the collection, ending with 1.28 score and a 37/25/13 KDA.

Light Mates was relegated to Challengers after failing to qualify for Champions Paris or the EMEA Stage 2 playoffs. Nevertheless, the organisation rapidly returned to VCT for one more yr, this time as a partnered crew, following KOI’s removing from the Worldwide League.

Light Mates was the worst-performing crew in EMEA in 2025, profitable simply three collection throughout the complete season. As such, heading into the 2026 VCT season, its whole roster was revamped, with Patrik ‘Minny‘ Hušek being the one participant retained.

The brand new line-up made its VCT debut in opposition to FUT Esports on Abyss, racing to a 4-0 lead earlier than the opposition levelled the scores with 4 consecutive spherical wins. The French aspect regained management and concluded the half with a 7-5 benefit.

The second half belonged fully to Light Mates. Regardless of FUT Esports profitable the primary two rounds, Light Mates hit match level with out dropping a single spherical and in the end secured the map at a 13-8 scoreline.

Light Mates was much more dominant on its map choose, Cut up, as the primary half concluded at 8-4. FUT Esports was not capable of combat again because it managed to safe simply two rounds within the second half earlier than M8 closed out the map by 13-6 and the collection by 2-0.

Whereas Light Mates’ IGL Patryk ‘starxo‘ Kopczyński was the highest-rated participant of the match with 1.31 score, FUT’s duelist Doğan ‘xeus‘ Gözgen delivered an incredible efficiency, attaining the best ACS of 240.

Spherical two of the VCT EMEA Kickoff Higher Bracket will see NAVI dealing with Workforce Heretics, whereas Light Mates will go up in opposition to GIANTX on January twenty second. All of the matches can be streamed reside on VCT EMEA’s official Twitch and YouTube channels.