Valorant superstar Tyson “TenZ” Ngo offered a glimpse into the Sentinels’ evolution during the Valorant Champions 2024 pre-tournament press conference on July 31, 2024.
The 2021 and 2024 Sentinels rosters are among the most accomplished lineups in the organization’s history. Both teams secured international victories and established themselves as dominant forces in the Valorant scene.
The star Omen and KAY/O main compared the iconic 2021 Sentinels roster—featuring Shahzeeb “ShahZaM” Khan, Hunter “SicK” Mims, Jared “zombs” Gitlin, and Michael “dapr” Gulino—with the current lineup of Zachary “zekken” Patrone, Gustavo “Sacy” Rossi, Amine “johnqt” Ouarid, and Jordan “Zellsis” Montemurro. The current team is striving for glory in Seoul at Valorant Champions 2024.
The 2021 and 2024 Sentinels squads had some interesting similarities in their VCT runs. TenZ explained what makes this year’s squad “the scariest Sentinels team assembled.”
TenZ compares 2021 and 2024 Sentinels rosters ahead of Valorant Champions Seoul
TenZ, the face of Valorant, has been a pivotal figure in the evolution of Sentinels. His journey with the organization began in 2021, marked by triumph and adversity.
The team’s meteoric rise culminated in a dominant victory at Masters Reykjavik, defeating Fnatic 3-0 in the grand final, solidifying their status as a global powerhouse. However, subsequent international events painted a contrasting picture.
A 5th-8th place finish at Masters Berlin and a 9th-12th placement at Valorant Champions 2021 cast a shadow over their otherwise stellar season.
Reflecting on the 2021 campaign, TenZ acknowledged the team’s shortcomings. “The 2021 showing of our team was quite disappointing for me,” he said. “It was a valuable learning experience, as we identified clear gaps in our gameplay.”
Fast-forward to 2024, and history seemed to repeat itself for the Sentinels. The team mirrored its 2021 trajectory, capturing an early-season title at Masters Madrid with a 3-2 victory over Gen.G in the grand final before hitting a roadblock.
TenZ cited burnout as a primary factor in the downturn in performance. Sentinels’ offseason boot camp resulted in an AfreecaTV Valorant League 2023 championship win, with a decisive 3-0 victory over VCT Pacific League 2023 champions Paper Rex in the grand final. They then went on to win VCT Americas Kickoff 2024, defeating LOUD 3-2 in the grand final.
“We’ve been playing nonstop for quite a bit,” TenZ explained. “Taking a break to refresh our minds and strategies was crucial.”
During the Valorant Champions 2024 press conference, TenZ shared his new confidence in the current Sentinels lineup.
“I’ve significantly improved, and I believe this is the best Sentinels iteration yet,” he declared. “We’re the most consistent and intimidating team to face.”
As the tournament unfolds, the world will witness if TenZ and his team can transform their bold statements into championship glory.
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