TenZ Confirmed to be Staying With Sentinels Until the End of Challengers
Published: Apr 13, 2021 - Last Updated: Jul 18, 2023
Sentinels are the VCT Masters 1 champions, and they currently hold the number one spot in North America. Their recent success is partly attributed to their newest member on loan, Tyson “TenZ” Ngo. TenZ came as a last-minute replacement for sinatraa, who was involved in an investigation that caused Sentinels to suspend him temporarily.
The initial loan deal with C9 Blue was mainly for the duration of Masters 1, but right now the organisation came out with an announcement, confirming that TenZ will be staying with Sentinels all the way until the end of VCT Stage 2 Challengers Finals. This is great news for both fans of Sentinels and TenZ, seeing how this combination has been working really great so far.
What happens after Challengers Finals?
The question that’s been on everyone’s mind since the day TenZ joined Sentinels, was whether Sentinels will eventually sign him permanently, instead of extending the loan periods. This possibility is still up in the air, and it depends on a couple of circumstances.
First of all, there’s the issue with sinatraa and the ongoing investigation he’s involved in. These things take time, and it’s very likely he won’t be done with it by the time Challengers are over. This would mean two things for Sentinels, to either prolong the loan yet again, or perhaps consider the second option of a TenZ buyout.
TenZ’s buyout tag is rumored to be in the millions, so if Sentinels opt for the second option they’ll have to spend a good chunk of money to acquire him permanently.
The road to Reykjavík
VCT Stage 2 Masters will be played in Reykjavík, and the added significance of this event is that this will be the first time all world’s regions will be competing under the same roof. Finally, fans of Valorant betting will be able to see which region is the strongest, and which team will persevere and climb to the top.
Sentinels, being the top team in NA, obviously wish to make it there and compete with the rest.
They had an unexpected setback at the end of VCT Stage 2 Challengers 1 Open Qualifier, where they faced a well-prepared Built By Gamers who caught them off guard and took a decisive 2-0 victory. This was a shock for the fans of Sentinels, but it’s not the first time this squad faced defeat and immediately recovered.
With ShahZaM’s tactical genius and leadership skills, they are expected to bounce back up and qualify for Challengers 2, where they’ll be able to work their way up to the Masters.
Sentinels must make a difficult choice
The longer the investigation into sinatraa goes on, the less certainty there is for Sentinels. At the same time, the more success they find in Valorant Champions Tour with TenZ playing with them, the higher his buyout price goes.
Some argue that it might have been better if they immediately bought him out now, instead of prolonging the loan period. As things stand, if they qualify for Reykjavík, they’ll be faced with this same choice again, but the cost will be higher. For now, TenZ is still a member of C9, but things might change in the near future.
We’re looking forward to seeing whether Sentinels can turn things around in the upcoming Challengers event. Follow us to stay up-to-date with the latest news and Valorant Champions Tour Predictions.
