Relegated with M8, Minny earned a second shot through VCT EMEA. Two victories now stand between him and a spot at Masters Santiago.
In 2025, Gentle Mates (M8) were relegated after suffering nine consecutive losses. While many expected them to return to Tier 2, the team instead reclaimed a spot in VCT EMEA by replacing Movistar KOI. At the 2026 Kickoff stage, M8 have been proving day by day that they belong in Tier 1.
In an interview with the only player who stayed from the 2025 roster, Patrik "Minny" Hušek, he opened up about returning to the stage, performing an outstanding comeback against GIANTX, and playing against an incredibly passionate crowd. "They are the reason I wanted to stay with Gentle Mates," he said.
The secret behind a 2-10 comeback
Coming back from a 2–10 score isn’t for everyone, but Gentle Mates managed to pull it off. According to Minny, the key was belief. The entire team kept trusting themselves, even when they were down 2–10. “We knew what to do,” M8 Minny explained. “A lot of the time, we just didn’t execute our plans properly, but we always felt in control. We just needed little adjusments, one more duel, and we would win."
Eleven rounds later, Gentle Mates got their second victory and closed the series with a 2-0 against GIANTX (GX). They are now two victories away from qualifying for the Masters Santiago, the first international event of the season.
But this victory over GIANTX had a different flavor for M8 Minny. In 2025, the team was relegated after losing to GX. While for his teammates there was no "revenge," Minny didn't feel the same way. "There is no crazy rivalry between the teams, but I wanted to win. Especially against GX, a team that we should have won the last time," he added. "I want to win against everyone. I'm done with just losing and losing, over and over again."
Even though the 2026 season has been golden, with two back-to-back victories, Minny knows they need to stay humble and keep working. In the end, the results will pay off.
M8 Minny gets a second chance
Not everyone gets a second chance to make history, but M8 Minny has all the tools to do it in 2026. After being relegated, Gentle Mates got a second opportunity and returned to Tier 1 to replace Movistar KOI. Everything changed, as the whole roster and coaching staff were brand-new, except for Minny. “I’ve been fighting for years to earn my place in the VCT, and I want to prove that to people,” he said.
Even though there is no past story for the rest of the team, all of them want to fight for this organization and finally bring some good results to the table. The synergy between them is "amazing," Minny described. It is like they read each other's minds.
But there is a reason why M8 Minny wanted so badly to stay in the team. "The fans made me stay. They take so much care of us, and you always feel their support. They motivate me to be better and work even more. I truly love Gentle Mates fans," he added.
For Minny, this team has the potential to go further in the competition and reach the international stages. According to him, while he, starxo, and marteen are "hard shooters," GLYPH has a different style. He dances with the smokes, and all of them complement each other.
The fact that Gentle Mates has such a diverse team makes them even better as a whole. "When five players are still shooting, making good calls and coming back from matches like these, they definitely can show amazing firepower on the international stage," he added.
Starxo as the in-game leader
The VALORANT Champions 2021 winner, Patryk "starxo" Kopczyński, is back at Tier 1 after almost two years playing in Tier 2. While he was a champion a long time ago, Minny believes he has been working hard and grinding to help the team reach that international stage.
"He trully appreciate people giving him a chance again in Gentle Mates, and he is just bringing amazing energy to the office every day," Minny described. "I think it was a great time for him to become an IGL, and with the coaching staff and me, we can lead the team to greatness."
And if you are not convinced yet, but Gentle Mate's firepower, Minny will help you out: "Come to Berlin, watch a match, and you will become part of the family. You will love the energy!" The team is playing again on Jan. 29 against NAVI, another team that has been surprising everyone with a talented roster. You can watch all the matches on the VCT EMEA official Twitch and YouTube channels.
