The Esports World Cup 2026 VALORANT tournament wrapped up its run in Paris this week, and while the competitive action delivered plenty of drama, a quieter regulatory shift happening in the background could matter far more to the crypto industry. France now allows licensed crypto firms to sponsor esports team jerseys, a move that opens the door to a marriage between two of the fastest-growing entertainment sectors on the planet.
The tournament, which ran from July 2 to 12, featured 16 teams battling for a sizable prize pool. Among them was Gentle Mates, a French organization that ultimately finished in the 5th-8th bracket after falling to NRG in the quarterfinals. Teams finishing in that range each took home $90,000.
Gentle Mates’ tournament run
Gentle Mates, the French squad formerly known as SBG, entered the EWC through VCT EMEA qualifiers. For an organization established just in 2023, making it to the playoff stage of a major international event is a statement.
Their Group C performance was solid. They took down XLG Esports 2-1 and beat Nongshim RedForce (NS) by the same scoreline to punch their ticket to the bracket stage. The quarterfinal matchup against NRG proved to be where the road ended.
