Gentle Mates Exit CS:GO, Rebrand as Iberian Soul for EWC Qualifier

The French esports organization Gentle Mates has announced its decision to withdraw support for its Spanish Counter-Strike: Global Offensive roster. The team, previously known as Gentle Mates, will now compete under the Iberian Soul banner as they aim for a spot in the Esports World Cup through the open qualifier.

Since being acquired by Gentle Mates in 2025, the Spanish squad demonstrated their potential by contending for a position at IEM Cologne. Despite their early success in the tier-two circuit and a strong start in the VRS rankings, the team struggled in crucial events leading up to the Major, resulting in their exit from the organization.

During their tenure as Gentle Mates, the team achieved notable victories, including winning the IstanbuLAN and securing second-place finishes at various tournaments such as the Radio Popular Roman Imperium Cup II and LORGAR RANKINGS Season 1. However, their performance at higher-tier events was less favorable, as they faced early eliminations at prestigious competitions like PGL Astana and IEM Rio.

Following the departure of Antonio "MartinezSa" Martinez to HEROIC, the remaining players have brought in Joey "CRUC1AL" Steusel as a stand-in and enlisted Daniel "djL" Narancic as their coach. Eloy "deLonge" Suárez, the former captain, has recently entered free agency.

Now competing as Iberian Soul, the team is set to face off against various opponents in the open qualifier, hoping to secure their place in the upcoming Esports World Cup. The current roster includes players such as Alejandro "alex" Masanet, Alejandro "mopoz" Fernández-Quejo Cano, Pere "sausol" Solsona Saumell, David "dav1g" Granado Bermudo, and Joey "CRUC1AL" Steusel.