Following the abrupt end of its partnership with KOI, Riot Games publicly announced that it is looking for a new organization to join the VCT EMEA and revealed that around ten serious applications are currently under discussion. Among those, Sheep Esports has identified two concrete projects so far, according to sources: Gentle Mates, and a Nordic alliance between Apeks and HEROIC.

This information came through a statement by Daniel Ringland, Head of Esports for VALORANT, where Riot Games confirmed the number of clubs interested in taking KOI’s vacant spot in one of the four international leagues. In addition to sharing that figure, Ringland also explained that the chosen organization will be revealed sometime in October, following the conclusion of Champions Paris 2025. While not entirely surprising, the announcement was intended to provide clarity and reassurance, especially in response to the persistent rumors surrounding Gentle Mates.

A battle between two projects

And indeed, according to our sources, Gentle Mates is firmly in the running for the spot, just as its founders had already hinted during a livestream several weeks ago. Beyond that, Sheep Esports has also learned of the creation of a partnership between Apeks and HEROIC, two Norwegian clubs that have each approached VALORANT in different ways and now want to build a Nordic powerhouse. Best known for their achievements in the rival FPS Counter-Strike, HEROIC has shown a longstanding interest in Riot’s title, going as far back as 2022 when they expressed the ambition to join VCT EMEA during the very first partnership process.

That bid ultimately did not succeed, which led HEROIC to scale back its commitment to VALORANT before finally entering the scene in May 2024 through the Game Changers circuit. However, after posting mixed results and finishing mid-table in the EMEA league, the organization decided to discontinue its project following Stage 2 in June 2025. The other half of the alliance, Apeks, is far more established in VALORANT, having just completed a season in VCT EMEA. The club was relegated back to Challengers after a very difficult competitive year, but with this Nordic alliance alongside HEROIC, Apeks is now attempting to reclaim a place in the international league by competing for KOI’s former slot.

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