Apeks will no longer be a VCT EMEA team in 2026, following their loss to KOI in the fourth week of Stage 2, which kicked off on Wednesday, August 6.
After earning their spot in the International League earlier this year thanks to their victory in the 2024 EMEA Ascension tournament, the Norwegian organization will now have to return to the lower tier — the Challengers. Apeks failed to meet the minimum performance requirements set by Riot Games to maintain a spot in the top tier, and barring a last-minute miracle, they are set to fall back into Tier 2.

Against KOI, it was Apeks who struck first in the series. On Lotus, the Norwegian side, led by Erik “penny” Penny, secured a 13-9 win by dominating the attacking half. But on the following map, Ascent, KOI showed no mercy, conceding only four rounds and forcing a decisive third map. On Haven, the Spanish squad ultimately crushed Apeks’ hopes of a comeback, closing out the series with a 13-8 victory (2-1).

It took just twelve consecutive defeats this season to send Apeks back down — almost as quickly as they climbed up. After falling short in the first-ever Ascension tournament in 2023 against Gentle Mates, Apeks came back stronger the following year with an entirely new roster. Despite the changes, they dominated the Challengers NORTH circuit and earned their place in the VCT EMEA promotion tournament. Narrowly defeating the Turkish squad PCIFIC Esports, the Nordic club secured a historic spot in the region’s highest league.

An empty season

But from the moment the season began — even after two roster moves — nothing ever really clicked. The team was knocked out after just two losses in the Kickoff event, went winless in Stage 1, and failed to qualify for the Esports World Cup after another pair of defeats. And now, following four more losses in Stage 2, the Norwegian squad finds itself officially ousted from VCT EMEA.

Like all teams promoted through Ascension across the four International Leagues, Apeks had to meet specific minimum objectives in order to retain their VCT slot. To stay in VCT EMEA for 2026, they had to achieve at least one of two conditions set by Riot Games: either qualify for the Stage 2 playoffs or finish in the top 8 of the Championship Points leaderboard.

Gentle Mates also pending

However, with this latest defeat to KOI, Apeks wraps up their season without a single official win — and more importantly, with zero points in the overall standings. Mathematically eliminated from the top 8, the team is now entirely out of the running for survival. They are also ineligible for the October Ascension tournament, which is reserved for the top Tier 2 teams and eligible relegated squads. By failing to meet either criterion, Apeks is now officially relegated — with no chance of being saved.

Meanwhile, Gentle Mates — another team promoted through Ascension — are also hanging by a thread after two rough seasons in the EMEA top tier. They’ll be playing for their VCT future this Thursday, August 7, against GIANTX. Should they go down, Lucas “Squeezie” Hauchard, the founder behind the project, has already stated that M8 will not be continuing in VALORANT, citing Riot’s high demands for investment and the low return for teams outside the very top.