A Nassterclass: Gentle Mates are your 2026 Boston Major Champions!

February 22, 2026

10:16 PM

The Boston Major has concluded, and it may have cemented itself in Rocket League Esports history as the single-most entertaining LAN tournament we’ve ever had. We’ve already caught up all the way through all of the quarterfinal matchups, so let’s take a look at the final three series that decided our Champion!

Team Falcons vs. Gentle Mates

Another playoff series, another thriller here in Boston. Gentle Mates and Falcons gave us our third Game 7 of the tournament after a tight, back and forth affair.

Gentle Mates punched first with a 1-0 game one win, but Falcons struck back with two straight 2-1 victories, one in regulation, and the next in overtime to swing the series in their favor and force a timeout out of coach Snaski and the rest of the Mates.

The timeout buff proved effective, as the Mates took home game 4 in a convincing fashion to knot up the series at 2 apiece. Falcons shot back with a dominant game 5 win on Parc de Paris.

After a sudden death goal on Neo Tokyo to force a game 7, Oski tied the game up with a beautiful pancake goal floating high above the Falcons backboard, and LAN rookie Nass slotted home the game winner to give each Gentle Mates player their first RLCS LAN Grand Final Appearance.

This semifinal marked the first time two Moroccan players appeared in the top four of an RLCS LAN, with Nass prevailing over his fellow countryman Dralii to advance in the bracket.

Nass celebrating an Oski game-winner

NRG vs. Team Vitality

The name value alone meant we were in for a treat in the second semifinal, and while NRG had a thrilling win over KC two matches beforehand, it was Vitality that came out swinging.

The Swarm crushed NRG in game 1, and had plenty of pressure in game 2 on Forbidden Temple. Finally, with 23 seconds to go in a 0-0 ball game, Stizzy had a beautiful fake, flying through the NRG box, to give Vitality the win.

With the pressure stacked against the lone North American squad, NRG managed to stop Vitality’s swarm of attacks and capitalize off of an overextension to grab a game and get back in the series.

After that however, Vitality closed out another tightly contested match and ran away with the series in game 5.

This win marked Vitality’s fifth straight against the NRG organization. It also is the first time that Vitality and Zen have made it back to an RLCS LAN Grand Finals since they clinched their second ever World Championship title in the 2022-23 Season.

Vitality celebrating after holding off NRG to advance to the Grand Finals

Gentle Mates vs. Team Vitality

Zen and Team Vitality were looking for a repeat in Boston, but it was Gentle Mates, the squad making their first ever RLCS LAN Grand Final appearances that showed up and showed out. LAN rookie Nass netted six goals in the first two games of the series, including an absolute worldie with a flip reset placed perfectly in the top right corner.

After a timeout, Vitality responded with two straight game wins of their own, blanking Mates both times. Archie stepped up big in game 5 with a three goal effort to put Gentle Mates on match point.

After a deadlocked game 6, Oski broke through the Vitality defense for the game winning goal with just over a minute to play. Oski struck again seconds later on an insane solo-play to seal the deal.

Entering the day as an MVP contender, Nass would not be denied. He dropped 12 goals, breaking the record for the most goals scored in a LAN Grand Final. Gentle Mates dispatched of Team Vitality to the tune of MVP chants directed to their upstart LAN newcomer.

With the win, the Gentle Mates have their second ever RLCS Major Championship!