The European squad Gentle Mates GC kicked off their run at the VALORANT Game Changers Championship 2026 with a resounding victory. The EMEA representatives defeated the defending world champions, Team Liquid Brazil, with a 2-0 score. This triumph secured the team a spot in the upper bracket semifinals, where they will face the winner of the G2 Gozen vs. MIBR GC matchup on October 27.
Although most expected an easy win for the Brazilian roster, the Gentle Mates players do not consider their success an upset. According to the team's captain (IGL) Iman "Nami" Nagaaoui, the squad ignored the predictions, focusing entirely on their own preparation. The team was confident in their abilities even before the match started and felt no pressure, despite the active support for their opponents from the local crowd.
The main star of the match was Gülce "wens" Sürmeli, who earned the MVP title. She secured two aces and won a series of key clutches. The team was not surprised by her performance, emphasizing that this is the result of wens' hard work on her confidence and in-game mindset.
Equally important was the successful integration of Safia "safiaa" Leghzal. The player joined the roster shortly before the tournament and had to change her in-game role. Despite initial concerns, she successfully adapted in just a month, thanks to the warm atmosphere in the team and the support of her new teammates.
Now, Gentle Mates GC are most looking forward to a potential matchup against G2 Gozen in the next round. A victory over this opponent would allow them not only to prove their dominance in the EMEA region but also to take revenge for their loss in the grand final in Turkey. Nami emphasized that with the addition of safiaa, the team has become even stronger and is ready for new challenges.
Off the stage, the team is enjoying their stay in São Paulo. The girls note the beauty of the city and the extraordinary hospitality of the Brazilians. A special discovery for the esports athletes was the politeness of local players in VALORANT ranked matches, which came as a pleasant contrast to the usual toxicity of European servers. As Nami summarized after the victory: "Now everyone knows who we are, that we're ready, and that we are real beasts."
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