Gentle Mates Captain Reflects on Tough Schedule, Strong Results, and Team Fatigue

Gentle Mates Captain Reflects on Tough Schedule, Strong Results, and Team Fatigue

At the Roman Imperium Cup V, Spanish CS2 squad Gentle Mates managed to secure their place in the playoffs with a gritty 2–1 win over EYEBALLERS, a match where they had to recover after dropping the first map and trailing on Inferno. 

Following the match, team captain Alejandro “alex” Masanet spoke to HLTV.org about how the team’s demanding schedule has shaped their season and why they’ve been able to sustain good results despite battling fatigue. 

“We’ve only had two days off this whole season,” alex said, outlining just how relentless Gentle Mates’ competition calendar has been. “We’ve been playing so intensively since the break — starting with BLAST Bounty and the Rio qualifier — that our only days of rest were almost negligible. That’s the reason I think we are performing this well, but you can also feel that the squad is a little bit tired now, because we are lacking energy.” 

This admission provides a rare glimpse into the intense workload of a competitive professional team outside the very top-tier events. While Gentle Mates have been enjoying above-average results, the lack of meaningful downtime is beginning to show in their in-game sharpness, particularly in longer, multi-map series. 

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Season So Far: Form, Momentum and Context

Gentle Mates’ run this year has included notable successes across multiple competitions. Earlier in the season, they won InstabuLAN and also secured qualification for IEM Rio — significant achievements for a relatively young roster competing in Counter-Strike 2’s increasingly crowded field. 

Their group stage performance at Roman Imperium Cup V saw them catapult into the top 15 in the global VRS rankings — a points system that determines invites to Tier 1 events such as RMRs and Majors. This places Gentle Mates on the cusp of qualifying for the next CS2 Major, a milestone that remains their primary goal for 2026. 

Alex emphasized the importance of consistency, noting that strong practice results or isolated wins mean little if the team can’t replicate that level under pressure on LAN events. He suggested that nervousness or inexperience in high-stakes environments can at times hold them back when compared to more established teams. 

“Winning here and there is good, but we need consistency. We might play well online or in practice scrims, but then on official LAN matches, sometimes we lack that extra,” alex explained. “Maybe it’s experience, maybe nerves — I don’t know how to describe it exactly. But even if it’s tough, a win is a win.” 

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Understanding Roman Imperium Cup and Its Importance

The Roman Imperium Cup V is a competitive Tier 2 Counter-Strike 2 event that recently revealed a full lineup including big names like 100 Thieves, Fnatic, and several other strong teams. While it carries a smaller prize pool than premier events, it offers Crucial VRS points and valuable high-level match practice ahead of the Major cut-off period. 

For a team like Gentle Mates — a roster built from Spanish talent rather than legacy powerhouse organisations — progressing deep at a tournament like Roman Imperium is more than just a confidence boost. It directly impacts their chances to compete at the highest level and secure invites to Valve-sanctioned Majors, which remain the pinnacle stages of the Counter-Strike 2 competitive calendar. 

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Gentle Mates: Who They Are and What They’ve Achieved

Gentle Mates is not a traditional esports organisation formed purely around competitive results. The club was founded in 2023 by a trio of well-known French content creators — including Lucas “Squeezie” Hauchard, Corentin “Gotaga” Houssein, and Kevin “Brawks” Georges — which has helped it quickly grow in popularity and attract significant fan interest across multiple titles. 

Their Counter-Strike 2 roster consists of players such as alex (Alejandro Masanet), mopoz, sausol, dav1g, and MartinezSa, a group that has steadily climbed the global ranks and frequently outperformed expectations. Based on recent statistics, their win rate and results across matches reflect strong form and potential, even if they occasionally slip in longer campaigns like this one. 

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What’s Next and the Road Ahead

With their playoff spot at Roman Imperium Cup V confirmed, Gentle Mates have at least temporarily eased pressure on their tournament hopes and remain firmly in contention for a Major qualification position. However, the extended competitive footprint — only two definite rest days all season — highlights the demanding pace teams must endure to accumulate VRS points and remain in contention. 

As alex himself put it, the goal remains clear: earn a spot at Cologne and prove they can compete consistently against the best teams in the world. While their top-tier status is not yet cemented, their results and recent resilience signal a squad growing into its competitive identity despite the fatigue and grinding schedule that all teams face at this level of professional esports.