“I only care about winning”: GLYPH on Gentle Mates’ VCT EMEA Kickoff win, moving to Europe, and adjusting to tier one

Following Gentle Mates’ opening VCT EMEA Kickoff victory over FUT Esports, Hotspawn caught up with GLYPH to discuss the win, his transition from North America to EMEA, adapting to a new role within the team, and what success looks like for him at the highest level of VALORANT.

Hotspawn: We are joined by GLYPH from Gentle Mates who is just coming off of their win against FUT. Firstly, congratulations on your win today, GLYPH.

How are you feeling?

GLYPH: “I’m feeling pretty good. One thing is I’m not IGLing on this team. It’s mostly starxo and Minny doing a lot of the work, but I help a good bit when it comes to information and still have a role there.”

Hotspawn: “Okay, that’s good to clarify, for some reason I was under the impression you were IGLing. But anyway, welcome to EMEA.

How does it feel to switch regions, first of all?

GLYPH: “It feels pretty good. There’s a lot of new faces, new playstyles, new teams that I’m excited to play, that I’ve gotten to practice against. It’s a whole different experience compared to North America and the scene when it comes to Challengers and playstyles. There’s a lot of different playstyles and compositions that people play that I don’t really think are replicated, or at least people are more open to trying a lot more things, I feel like.

“But I think it’s been a very comfortable transition for me. At the end of the day, it’s still just playing the game and I’ve played the game for so long now, even though this is my rookie year. So it’s just a pleasure to be here and playing against new faces that I haven’t played against ever really.”

Hotspawn: Do you think it makes it more intimidating or are you just like, ‘I don’t care who I’m playing against, I’m just going to chill’?

GLYPH: “I think I definitely held certain people, certain teams on a pedestal, you know, just seeing them online, seeing them in internationals, whatever it might be. But as I’ve kind of assimilated in the ecosystem and played more ranked or played more scrims, that’s kind of gone away. I kind of just realized that they’re normal teams, normal players, and the level of competition isn’t as different compared to North America. And so for me, I don’t think it’s that much of a challenge or that different to adjust to.”

Hotspawn: You played at all three tiers; Collegiate before there was a path from collegiate to Challengers, then Challengers, of course, last year in your Ascension run, and now you’re in tier one.

So what do you think are the biggest differences between these stages in terms of playstyle, preparation, or anything else?

GLYPH: “I think it’s an obvious one, but I think it’s just discipline as it goes through the tiers. There’s a lot more preparation as you go from tier three to tier two and tier one, and the individual skill floors are just rising every tier you go. And so for me, it’s just adapting to the level of play when it comes to my teammates and being able to help them or match them and what they’re used to and how their experiences are, as well as playing against other people who are more disciplined.

“It’s just harder to play against when it comes to not giving free kills or free mistakes. There are a lot fewer things I’m able to capitalize on that I think I was able to punish last year in Ascension or in tier three. But as it goes, it’s just a higher level of play through the tiers, and there’s a reason why it’s tier one in the first place. So I’d say discipline is the number one difference.”

Hotspawn: How’s it been moving to Europe? How is living in Berlin?

GLYPH: “For me, it’s been great so far. There was a pretty wicked snow day the other week—that was not great for me. I’m from America, we don’t get snow that often where I’m from. But it got really icy one time, like a week before our match, and I fully slipped down stairs because it was so icy. So besides that, I’d say Berlin’s been fine, but outside of the snow, that might be my worst enemy here.”

Hotspawn: How has it been adapting and bonding with the team?

GLYPH: “It’s been great so far. I think there are a lot of different characters and profiles, and that makes the experience more fun than anything. We’re able to practice seriously, but also flip the switch outside of practice and have fun with each other. Even with cultural differences or language misunderstandings, everyone’s super warm and willing to understand each other. It’s been an easy transition comparatively.”

“I tried out for a couple of different EMEA teams before I landed in Gentle Mates, and I think it might have been harder elsewhere due to language barriers. But with this team, the English is pretty good overall, and it’s been less of a barrier than I expected.”

Hotspawn: So what’s been the biggest challenge for you so far?

GLYPH:  “It’s been a double-edged sword. It’s been good and bad not being IGL now. I’ve had to focus more on listening and understanding where I can input rather than leading everything. It’s been relieving in a sense, but also tough. At the same time, I’ve been able to focus more on myself mechanically and become a more well-rounded player within a system rather than leading it.”

Hotspawn: You were playing smokes today. How’s that adjustment been?

GLYPH: “Smokes is pretty natural for me. I’ve played it for a long time. I think today I made a couple mistakes that gave them rounds they shouldn’t have had. Respectively, the game should’ve been 12–3 if I didn’t throw a couple thrifty rounds. That’s been tough, but overall it’s been comfortable.”

THE LOSE STREAK IS OVER!@gentlemates take the series 2:0 ⭐️ pic.twitter.com/msEeLkiTxZ

— VALORANT Esports EMEA (@valesports_emea) January 20, 2026

Hotspawn: How exciting is it to be two wins away from Santiago?

GLYPH: “It’d be amazing. We’re all super excited to be playing on stage again. Playing internationally in front of a bigger crowd with higher stakes would be incredible.”

Hotspawn: “What’s your ultimate goal in esports?”

GLYPH: “I only care about winning. It doesn’t matter how it’s done or what I have to do. I’m very selfless in that aspect. Whatever it takes to win. I want to be known as someone who was always a contender and respected to play against.”

Hotspawn: How has it been playing in front of the Gentle Mates fanbase?

GLYPH: “I love it. There’s no extra pressure. They’re welcoming and supportive, and I’m proud to represent this organization.”