GIANTX extend contracts of Flickless, ara, and grubinho until 2026

GIANTX have confirmed on their official X account that they’ll be retaining three of their players – Karel "Flickless" Maeckelbergh, Eduard-George "ara" Hanceriuc, and Grzegorz "GRUBINHO" Ryczko – until the end of 2026.

This trio only joined the team earlier in the 2025 season, between April and May. Flickless and ara arrived from UCAM Esports in the Tier-2 circuit, while grubinho, the only one with prior Tier-1 experience, came from KOI, a team he joined after also competing for UCAM.

A Vital Mid-Season Revamp

GIANTX began the year with a rocky performance in VCT EMEA, prompting a roster shake-up. Flickless and ara were brought in for VALORANT Champions Tour 2025 - EMEA Stage 1, with grubinho joining soon after ahead of the EWC VALORANT - Esports World Cup 2025 - EMEA Qualifier.

After a brief period of adjustment, the lineup gelled quickly. VALORANT Champions Tour 2025 - EMEA Stage 2 saw the team embark on a stunning run, taking down regional heavyweights like Fnatic and securing a second-place finish in VCT EMEA after falling to Team Liquid in the grand finals. This placement was enough to guarantee the team a slot at VALORANT Champions Tour 2025 - Valorant Champions.

Champions Breakthrough

GIANTX made an immediate impact on the world stage. They stunned audiences by defeating fan favorites Sentinels in their opening match and even took a map off a dominant Paper Rex in peak form. Finishing the group stage with a 2-1 record, they advanced to the playoffs, achieving their best-ever international placement since their days competing as Giants in 2023.

However, their run came to an end in the playoffs, where eventual tournament winners NRG handed them a decisive 0-2 loss. A subsequent elimination against Team Heretics sealed their Champions exit.

Building for the Future

While the playoff defeat was disappointing, GIANTX’s remarkable turnaround in 2025 proved the value of their new signings. Extending the contracts of Flickless, ara, and grubinho ensures stability and builds on the youthful core that drove the org back into global contention.

With their contracts secured through 2026, GIANTX hope to continue climbing the competitive ladder – this time aiming to turn near-misses into championship victories.

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Featured Image Source: Adela Sznajder/Riot Games