Sentinels had quite a terrible season in Valorant, so it was obvious that something had to be changed. Well, their rebuild seems to be working! If you're interested in what's different for the Sentinels, here's their current roster, the new player announcement and what helped them to dominate in scrims.
This past season, many whispers circulated about Sentinels – from the potential loss of TenZ, to facing bankruptcy and other gossipy talk. The 2023 VCT season wasn't particularly remarkable for them, and their standout performance was during an off-season event.
Landing at 3rd place at the Tarik x Ludwig Invitational was exciting, but it's not the kind of result Sentinels requires to keep their place in the competitive landscape and maintain their organization's financial health.
he's here to stay pic.twitter.com/4Ax4qckY6W
— Sentinels (@Sentinels) September 8, 2023
Valorant: TenZ Renews Contract with Sentinels
As hinted earlier, we'll touch upon what's been going right for Sentinels in recent scrims. But before that, even though they weren't exactly victorious in their game, we have to note how they've been excelling in their media presence.
Over the recent months, Tarik, their chief content creator, set new milestones. His VCT Champions watch party, for instance, clocked more view hours than the official Valorant stream.
Meanwhile, TenZ has become an iconic figure in Valorant. Even when they aren't making big waves in the pro circuit, the Sentinels stand tall.
On September 8th, Sentinels confirmed that they've renewed TenZ's contract, signaling that he won't leave his team. The announcement was received with much enthusiasm, partly thanks to Tarik's involvement.
Run it back on the Yoru? https://t.co/LWt95qntnn
— TenZ (@TenZOfficial) September 9, 2023
Valorant: Sentinels Introduce johnqt as Their New IGL
Simply renewing TenZ's contract wouldn't necessarily address the challenges they faced last season.
While Mouhamed may not be a household name in the Valorant scene, his stint with M80 showcased his abilities. His leadership guided his former team to a 2nd place finish in the Americas Ascension League.
Thank you, @1johnqt. pic.twitter.com/68sNAEGDuF
— M80 (@M80gg) September 11, 2023
After M80 disbanded, Sentinels identified a unique talent in this Moroccan IGL and invited him to the US for trial scrim sessions.
Under his guidance, the Sentinels found renewed energy in their scrims, even proudly sharing snippets of their games against the reigning Champions. Time will tell if johnqt is the missing link they've been searching for, but for now, a glimpse of their potential lineup awaits below.
The whole world wondered, now the secret's out@1johnqt is officially your Sentinels IGL pic.twitter.com/EJPb2Y8KYK
— Sentinels (@Sentinels) September 13, 2023
Valorant: New Sentinels Roster Rumors
Expect a few surprises here. A spreadsheet leaked on Twitter hinted at possible roster changes, and Sentinels' latest signings might validate these rumors.
The possible lineup Sentinels are practicing with is as follows:
Alias | Position | Confirmed Addition (Y/X) |
TenZ | Player | Y |
johnqt | Player/IGL | Y |
Pancada | Player | X |
Sacy | Player | X |
zekken | Player | X |
kaplan | Head Coach | Y |
DrewSpark | Assistant Coach | X |
Reports suggest Marved and Sick (formerly on the inactive roster) are no longer with the team. The above lineup is likely the one they're scrimming with this off-season, but there might be some modifications in the next weeks. With TenZ's health back to form, expectations are high for him to return with a bang.
please don't diff me again next year
— 100T Asuna (@Asunaa) September 9, 2023
Only a significant tournament win will truly mark Sentinels' comeback. Currently, their scrim results hint at a return to form, suggesting the team is on the path to reclaiming their prime. Hopefully, we'll see them in action soon in an upcoming off-season event – because everyone's everyone is craving for some Yoru diff-ing.