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 following spherical of the Higher Bracket, the place the organisations will battle towards Staff Heretics and GIANTX, respectively.
The dropping squads, however, can be persevering with VCT EMEA Kickoff 2026 within the Center Bracket, beginning January twenty first.
The opening map, Break up, was NAVI’s decide, and the roster was able to dominate on stage because it led 7-2 within the opening first half. That mentioned, Karmine Corp received three back-to-back rounds to succeed in a good rating heading into the second half.
Nonetheless, the French workforce 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, but it surely 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 workforce tried to recuperate within the second half however managed to win solely 5 rounds, permitting NAVI to safe a 13-7 victory and lock down the sequence 2-0.
Uğur ‘Ruxic‘ Güç was the highest-performing participant of the sequence, ending with 1.28 ranking and a 37/25/13 KDA.
Light Mates Return to VCT With a Win
Light Mates was the worst-performing workforce in EMEA in 2025, profitable simply three sequence throughout all the season. As such, heading into the 2026 VCT season, its total roster was revamped, with Patrik ‘Minny‘ Hušek being the one participant retained.
The brand new line-up made its VCT debut towards FUT Esports on Abyss, racing to a 4-0 lead earlier than the opposition levelled the scores with 4 consecutive spherical wins. The French facet regained management and concluded the half with a 7-5 benefit.
The second half belonged totally to Light Mates. Regardless of FUT Esports profitable the primary two rounds, Light Mates hit match level with out dropping a single spherical and finally secured the map at a 13-8 scoreline.
Light Mates was much more dominant on its map decide, Break up, as the primary half concluded at 8-4. FUT Esports was not capable of struggle 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 sequence by 2-0.
Whereas Light Mates’ IGL Patryk ‘starxo‘ Kopczyński was the highest-rated participant of the match with 1.31 ranking, FUT’s duelist Doğan ‘xeus‘ Gözgen delivered an incredible efficiency, reaching the best ACS of 240.
Spherical two of the VCT EMEA Kickoff Higher Bracket will see NAVI dealing with Staff Heretics, whereas Light Mates will go up towards GIANTX on January twenty second. All of the matches can be streamed dwell on VCT EMEA’s official Twitch and YouTube channels.
