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It’s a rough day for French VALORANT fans, Gentle Mates have officially been relegated from VCT EMEA and won’t be able to fight their way back through Ascension either. That’s right, their time in the top-tier league has come to a close, and they may not even return to the VALORANT scene at all.

A harsh ending to a hopeful story

Gentle Mates, also known as M8, came into VCT EMEA with a fair bit of hype. Backed by French YouTube star Squeezie, the team earned their promotion after taking down Apeks in the 2023 Ascension final. It was a huge moment, not just for the players, but for French VALORANT as a whole.

But staying at the top is a whole different challenge. Over the past two years, Gentle Mates have struggled to find their rhythm. In 2024, they couldn’t make it out of groups in any stage. And this year hasn’t been much better. Their overall record? Just 3 wins in 13 matches. Ouch.

The loss that sealed it

The final nail came on August 7, when Gentle Mates faced off against GIANTX in what was essentially a last-chance match. They started off strong, taking the first map thanks to some solid plays from ComeBack and even leading 9-3 on the second. But as the sides flipped, so did the match.

GIANTX brought the heat, with ara absolutely popping off on Jett. They stole back the second map, then steamrolled the decider with a dominant 13-4 on Haven. And with that, Gentle Mates’ VCT hopes were snuffed out for good.

No Ascension, no comeback

You might be thinking, “can’t they just requalify through Ascension?”
Not this time.

Under Riot’s system, teams promoted through Ascension only get to stay in VCT if they hit certain targets, like making playoffs or finishing top 8 in Championship Points. Gentle Mates hit neither. With just 1 point on the board and a bottom-of-the-table finish, they don’t even qualify for this October’s Ascension tournament.

In short: they’re out, and there’s no lifeline.

Will they come back?

That’s the big question. After the match, Squeezie hinted that Gentle Mates might not return to VALORANT at all. He was quoted saying there’s a “very strong, massive chance” the team won’t compete next year. That wouldn’t be a huge shock, running a top-level esports team takes massive investment, and without Riot partnership or Tier 1 status, the costs might not be worth it.

Two teams down, one big question

With both Gentle Mates and Apeks relegated back-to-back, it raises a serious point:

Is the VCT system too punishing for new teams?

Two back-to-back Ascension winners, two relegations, no second chances. It’s a brutal reminder of how cutthroat the VALORANT esports scene has become.

What’s next?

For now, Gentle Mates are set to return to the Challengers circuit, IF they decide to stick around. Whether they rebuild and fight their way back or call it a day, only time will tell. But for the fans, especially those in France, it’s a disappointing end to a once-promising journey.