The VCT EMEA Kickoff 2026 has officially begun in Berlin, and two teams have already made a huge statement. NAVI and Gentle Mates both started their campaigns with strong 2-0 victories on the first day. These wins have secured them places in the Upper Bracket of the tournament, putting them in a great position early on.
NAVI faced off against Karmine Corp in their opening match. The series was played on two maps, Split and Haven. On the first map, Split, NAVI started very strong. They built up a lead of 7-2 by the halftime break. Although Karmine Corp tried to make a comeback in the second half, NAVI managed to hold them off. After some intense exchanges, NAVI clinched the map with a final score of 13-11.
The second map, Haven, was more one-sided in NAVI’s favor. They dominated the early stages of the game, jumping out to a 7-2 lead once again. Karmine Corp tried to fight back late in the match, winning five rounds in a push. However, NAVI’s defense was solid, and they finished the map with a comfortable 13-7 victory. The player known as ‘Ruxic’ was a standout performer for NAVI, achieving a rating of 1.28 and a KDA of 37/25/13.
Meanwhile, Gentle Mates took on FUT Esports in their first match of the tournament. The first map was Abyss. Gentle Mates started with incredible speed, winning the first four rounds to lead 4-0. They maintained this advantage, going into the halftime break with a 7-5 lead. After switching sides, Gentle Mates completely shut down FUT Esports, not allowing them to win another round. They secured the map with a 13-8 score.
The second map, Split, was another controlled performance by Gentle Mates. They led 8-4 at the halftime mark. From there, they continued to cruise toward victory without facing much resistance. They finished the map with a decisive 13-6 win. For Gentle Mates, the player ‘starxo’ shone brightly with a rating of 1.31. Even in defeat, FUT Esports had a strong individual performance from ‘xeus’, who recorded 240 average combat score.
With these losses, Karmine Corp and FUT Esports have been sent to the Middle Bracket. Their journey in the tournament continues there, starting on January 21. They will need to win their next matches to stay alive in the competition.
The tournament action moves forward to January 22 for the next round of the Upper Bracket. The matchups are set, and they promise more exciting games. NAVI will face Team Heretics, while Gentle Mates will take on GIANTX. These matches will be crucial for securing a spot in the later stages of the event.
Fans can watch all the matches live. The games are being broadcast on the official VCT EMEA channels on both Twitch and YouTube. These opening victories show that the EMEA region is starting the 2026 VCT season with fierce competition and high energy.
