Top 5 New VCT EMEA Players to Watch in 2026

This Tuesday, January 20, marks the start of the VCT EMEA 2026 Kickoff. Twelve teams will compete for qualification to Masters Santiago (February 28 – March 15) in a triple-elimination bracket. In total, 20 players will make their debut at the regional VALORANT elite level. Sheep Esports highlights five profiles who could shape the year in their own way, and who will be worth keeping an eye on in 2026.

Zhumagali "dos9" Dastan embodies the kind of profile that can tilt a series on a single sequence: exceptionally fast information gathering, a timing window that breaks an opponent’s setup, and a confidence that demands respect. This type of player must learn to convert instinct into habit and can help Karmine Corp to be at the top. The real test in 2026 will not be his ceiling, but his ability to chain together the right decisions once pressure sets in after a good start in VCT Pacific with Boom Esports.

Utku "Loita" Kart fits the profile of a player who “smooths out” a team: he connects intentions, stabilizes rounds that start to unravel, and maintains clarity when the game turns chaotic. His challenge in 2026 will be to impose his identity without being swallowed by the Tier 1 pace. As part of the BBL PACIFIC group that won the Ascensions EMEA 2025, he is taking his shot at the franchise league to reach new heights.

As for his teammate, Yusuf Kaan "Lar0k" Kanber stands out because he seems to be at a pivotal stage: the moment when a promising talent can stop being “a good player” and become a central piece. EMEA offers little time to learn; preparation is heavier, mistakes immediately cost rounds, and repeated duels expose everything. What makes Lar0k particularly interesting to watch in 2026 is precisely this question: how quickly can he accelerate his adaptation? If he turns his aggression into a structured advantage, he can move rapidly from prospect to consistent threat.

On the American side, Conner "GLYPH" Garcia is the kind of player who shifts a team’s temperature through his attention to detail: discipline, timings, intelligent utility usage, and the ability to “hold” a round together when everyone else starts to panic. From VCL NA to EMEA, that profile can become valuable, especially as the season stretches on and tactical fatigue begins to set in. In 2026, GLYPH’s task will be to show that he can provide this stability against anyone, not only in favourable contexts. If he succeeds, he could become the type of player coaching staffs appreciate: understated, yet foundational, and capable of making a credible entry into Tier 1.

Felix "al0rante" Brandl has all the makings of a bet that can pay off quickly: a player able to claim space within a round, generate advantages without asking permission, and flip momentum when a series stalls. His objective in 2026 is therefore clear: preserve his impact while broadening his approach, varying his engagements, becoming harder to read, and choosing his moments with greater precision. If he builds confidence framed by a solid structure, the impact can become visible fast, especially in high-pressure rounds.