Riot, please bring back the Lock//In tournament. Watching it before was what introduced me to other teams and players. Each series was chef’s kiss because of how high stakes the games were.

So, I didn’t watch it live because I had work, and I planned not to watch the VOD since SEN lost (I didn’t want to see them looking down after how good they were throughout Stage 1). Did G2 stomp SEN, or was it a good game from both teams? Did Trent or Tejo just make a huge impact? Was there a big gap in team strats? And does SEN still look promising heading into Toronto, even with the loss to G2?

To be honest, they’re a really good team, but what they lack compared to the top Americas teams right now (SEN and G2) is the ability to adapt quickly in-game and experience in high-pressure situations. That’s why in their finals matches, from Kickoff to Stage 1, Aspas is the only player who consistently popped off — because he knows how to perform under high-stakes conditions.

I really hope management reevaluates the coaching staff after this season. They’ve got absolute aim gods on the roster, but the comps and roles are so messed up—it’s painful to watch.

You're playing a no scan initiator on Fracture, wdym?

I know, guys—you love Alex, and he’s a well-known coach—but PRX definitely needs a new coach. These comps are terrible, and they’re wasting the talents of these amazing players. No clear fundamentals and bad comps in 2025 VALORANT? You’re just going to lose.

I think he's more mad than nervous. Because, based on what he said there's no problem with their calling but team's harmony now.

i don't think SEN is gonna complacent as this match is a must win for them, for map ban advantage as well as qualification in EWC.

This is just my hunch—I think what really happened is that Verno has a different personality. FNS, s0m, and Ethan already have a strong friendship built both in and out of the game, and mada seems to know how to vibe with the core or has already settled into it.

The problem is, Verno knows what he wants and what to do in-game, especially on the server. He’s vocal about being the one to lead map veto sessions and even asks Artzin to let him IGL sometimes. So, I think Verno contributed a lot of game insight, which Bonkar also agreed with.

But since FNS has a different perspective and approach to the game, they ended up clashing—to the point where the vibe just wasn’t working anymore, or Verno started doing his own thing. FNS knows how important team chemistry and vibe are, and eventually, the core couldn’t connect with Verno anymore.

Bonkar wanted to keep Verno, but since the four had already made their decision, Bonkar voluntarily stepped down as well. That’s why you hear the core saying a lot of things about Verno, but not about Bonkar.

As you can see, Verno seems to freely call a lot in MIBR—possibly because Artzin trusts him and gives him the space to contribute however he wants to within the team.

And s0m doesn't wanna play without FNS, it's because of their friendship, trust with each other, and most likely they usually have same perspective and approach in the game, as simple as it is.

I don't think she's a good caster, but she's a really good analyst and host. Every time I watch a good game and she's one of the casters, it's mostly her voice or the lack of hype that stands out. So even when the game is competitive, it sometimes feels underwhelming because of how it's cast. I really wish we had someone like Pansy in NA.

I think it's gonna be a good match, it's gonna show if SEN really figure out their shit. They have not yet really challenge in their past matches - they already admitted it. But the thing is both N4RRATE and bang clearly more comfortable and confident now compare to Kick Off.

It doesn't make sense if Reduxx will replace Bang - Bang has wide controller agent pool which is more likely needed with the current meta. Reduxx is more like an Omen player not a Controller player - just like TenZ.

No offense to the SEN merch designer or design team—been watching their matches, and the jersey looks really good, but I don’t know… it just doesn’t have that SEN red aura.

why the VCT post only displays 5 teams for Stage 1 playoffs? But when I look at liquipedia it should be 8 teams? even on the stage 1 format trailer said it should teams?

I've been watching SEN interviews and BTS vlogs lately, and they always say the same thing when they lose a map or a series—it’s either of them being slow or hesitant in making plays or having too many ideas that aren’t aligned with each other. In these past matches against 100T and KRU, both of which typically play aggressively, they clearly had a hard time adapting. I hope they figure this out.

I checked Valorant Liquipedia and VLR, but they have different group standings. Which site is accurate to look at?

Jessievash need to retire.

Kinda tired too seeing a lot of posts after SEN loss reminiscing the 2024 roster. It made me feel sad as well for Bang and N4RRATE where they're trying to improve themselves as a player, trying to learn SEN's system as well as deal with these fans who can't move on and pressure.

This loss is good for SEN, they're always like this, where they trying to find their footing in the map (which is kinda sad) in their first matches. Remember SEN Split against 100T they got 13-5, and now whenever they play Split, they seem working well together. But, SEN still have weak map pool, but you can see that they are improving yet they are slow pace at adapting the meta which is kinda scared for their future matches - hopefully they will not play the same Icebox comp in their next matches, and take advantage of Tejo + Breach in Fracture and Lotus maps.

Remember, Tenz and Sacy chose to retire in competitive. It's their decision to not play and leave. So, move on.
And Reduxx is not the saviour, and Kap seems like the type of Coach who trusts in process and believes in his players/team.

The 'Haven Fnatic Comp' is clearly not working in them. They are having a hard time in defense and Boostio just anti-strat johnQT perfectly plus 100T comp is much better in attack side.

been 20 hours and you're just waiting for her response. Go to her place, ask her friends and family. Do something, don't just wait.

I understand Zellsis came from CS and while "retard" has been historically used as a slur, in gaming culture, it’s often used casually. However, that doesn't make it right, and public figures need to be aware of the words they use, especially on recorded content. His apology was a responsible step. This fan has a history of wishing death upon other pro players, and calling people racist randomly, it proves they are clearly acting in bad faith, and it’s hypocritical to demand respect while engaging in toxic behavior.

Telling someone they wouldn’t be harassed if they weren’t an "ugly bitch" is completely inappropriate. Even if the fan was instigating drama, responding with personal insults and appearance-based attacks is not okay, especially from a pro player with a platform and part of a big org.

The best move now would be for everyone to step away from social media, let the drama die, and focus on more productive conversations. But since you can't control other people, just let them be - you can’t control how others act, but you can control how you engage with the situation. Social media thrives on drama, and the more attention it gets, the longer it lasts. In this case, it seems like the fan is actively engaging in it rather than de-escalating.

Sometimes the best move is to step back—not to "let them win," but to protect your own peace.

24: A bunch of experienced and high-caliber players who just needed good leadership (johnqt - tactics).
25: A bunch of young and inexperienced players with high potential, and I believe johnqt (tactics) and zellsis (mental/emotional) leadership are the best for them.

As a team, however, they need to find a new formula or identity, as the 2024 approach is clearly not working with the current roster. So, give them time. Going to Masters Bangkok with two new young players is a good start for this team, even though they exited the tournament early with zero wins.

They just don't know how to play together in a man advantage situations. And that round where 2 SEN fell off the map starts the snowball effect in favor of TL

SEN played all maps in the current map pool from Kick Off to Bangkok. And they played different comps depending on what team they're playing against. And if the comp did not do well, they'll change it in the next game. They've been gambling too much to the point they're looking lost and shit. And N4RRATE has been the sacrificial lamb for this approach - bro played almost all the roles/agents that they changed in every matches.

This team definitely need a therapist - their mental is so fucked up that causes their team's chemistry. Most of it all they're not playing like a unit. All of them especially zekken, bang and N4RRATE - during mid rounding they're trying to make their own plays that cost them a round. BRO? It looks like they don't trust each other so they're all trying to make plays own their own - that's why every play they had is more like hero plays.

And to be honest, why their strats lately seems like a T2 level - especially their mid rounding. Mygad, in Abyss, they've been winning trying to have control in mid and double flank. But, in OT they did not do it. ARE THEY EVEN COUNTING - 1,2,3 PEEK?

I'm a fan tbh, and I hope this is some blessings in disguise for SEN they have more time to process and get ready for Stage 1.

They gamble too muc, they've been changing comps depending on the team they're against. And it's always N4RRATE taking the changes.. and it's sooo bad

They seem so tense when playing like, there's no smiling or anything like EDG yesterday. Feels like they're so eager to win but they're adding more pressure to themselves.

SEN doesn't struggle with firepower, hero plays, or X-factor moments—Bang, Zekken, N4RRATE, and even Johnqt all bring strong firepower. However, their biggest issues lie in confidence and consistency. Strategically, SEN isn't bad. During the Kickoff Tournament, they frequently found themselves in large round deficits but still managed to close out maps. However, their struggles come from a lack of team cohesion in executions and decision-making. Their core problems are mental resilience and role comfortability.

There's no issue with Bang—he has been an excellent smoke player for Sentinels, capable of playing all smoke agents. Lately, he's been incorporating more aggressive plays instead of his usual passive approach. However, he needs to improve his decision-making—not just in utility usage, but also in his overall play.

Zekken excels on Neon, Raze, and now Yoru, but his Jett performances have been underwhelming. A potential fix? Let N4RRATE take over Jett on Jett-heavy maps. He has openly expressed his desire to play duelist, which aligns better with his natural playstyle. In the current meta (Breach + Tejo), SEN already has a strong Breach player in Zellsis, so he should be slotted in. That leaves Johnqt on Tejo. The question then becomes: Who plays Sentinels? With three flex players (Zellsis, Johnqt, and N4RRATE), the best approach is:

• If Vyse is needed → Zellsis plays her.
• If Cypher is required → Johnqt is the better pick over N4RRATE. However, if Johnqt is locked into Tejo, N4RRATE is a better Cypher option than Zellsis.

This structure optimizes role comfort while leveraging individual strengths. I'm just a fan and I believe the team's is continuously improving and growing, I just hope they find fixes in their problems earlier because they are a really good team, and I want them to play all international events this year - hopefully win one. But right now, hard to accept but the truth is they are not gonna win Masters Bangkok - it's either G2 or DRX as they are the teams that are more polished and have a good map pool.

Look for inspiration beyond just your niche—explore all aspects of design and recreate them until you find your own identity. It’s going to be hard at first, but design is an iterative process; you can’t create something perfect on the first try.

Zellsis will never leave Sentinels as long as he chooses to play. Why? The real truth is that he's excellent at mid-rounding, leading the team's morale, and maintaining a strong mental game. Have you seen the SEN vlog after they failed to qualify for Masters Shanghai? Sacy mentioned how amazed he was at the way Zellsis handled the situation despite the loss, crediting his mentality.This new iteration of SEN is full of young players—Zekken, Bang, and n4rrate, with the possibility of Reduxx joining in the future. These young guys need a leader, not just in the tactical aspect but in all areas—mental, emotional, and even physical. I’ve watched some of Zellsis’s livestreams and YouTube videos, and he’s been motivating both n4rrate and Bang to hit the gym because it's beneficial for esports players. He also encourages them to eat healthy. Zellsis isn’t just a teammate—he’s a cultural leader. He always emphasizes making the team feel like a brotherhood, a family, rather than just a group of teammates.

Yes, he is lacking some firepower, but you can't deny that you needed someone like Zellsis in your team.

he's always doing it, will portrays themselves as more confident or better team but during the game got stomped on. All NA teams always do it. As a fan, idk, sometimes I just feel like it's karma, that's why sometimes I hope they become humbler and stop underestimating other teams especially APAC and CN.

Bang and N4RRATE are not better players compared to Sacy and TenZ as of now. They’ve openly stated that they are not here to fill those shoes. SEN has a different approach this year—building a new generation for the team. They chose Bang and N4RRATE because the coaching staff saw potential in them. Think about having N4RRATE, Bang, and Zekken as the core of SEN in the coming years.

It’s clear from the matches that there’s a noticeable difference between SEN '24 and '25—particularly in decision-making across different situations. That is the lackluster part of the 2025 SEN roster.

Additionally, SEN has never been in the conversation for a top-four finish or winning the Bangkok tournament. However, they have a high ceiling as they continue to develop together. Reduxx will not be their savior. That kid is mechanically gifted, but in Tier 1, that’s not enough. You need a better understanding of the game, strong decision-making, confidence, mental resilience, maturity, and most importantly—experience. He is not the solution SEN needs right now, and that’s the truth.

The thing about Tarik is that he's watching the game to react, not to fully understand or analyze it (not that he needs to be on SliggyTV's level). Lately, I've noticed that when he tries to form an opinion, he often changes it quickly if his chat considers it an 'L' take. He’s become more of a people-pleaser and mainly watches the game for the hype—and, of course, his job. It's similar to Kyedae; I used to enjoy her content, but now it feels stagnant.

And he's no near Caedrel, I watched this guy during my first LOL Worlds last year, this guy has so much passion in the game to the point he's like the caster of the game. He doesn't interact too much in his chat when the game is on.

they are indecisive it shows both in attack and defend rounds.. they lost the team that knows how to retake the site and have good trades

A lot of people been saying that Zellsis should be scared when Reduxx turns 18, but I think it will be N4RRATE. He is a really good and smart player but his mental what's holding him back. I saw the replay where Zellsis something said he doesn't wanna hear something and he looked at N4RRATE, it seems like it's about complaining after he got killed. That thing is not really good for Sentinels having a teammate that gets titled and then complains in the middle of a round. Zellsis wouldn't be scared because he is the glue of team and a caller with JohnQT + vibe merchant guy that proved u needed in a team. I am scared for N4RRATE - throughout the kick off season it felt like he was trying to prove something, it's good to be a competent and passionate player but I hope he put works with his mental. And Reduxx, damn I think he is so confident and hard worker with his age.

And SEN, can we please let zekken play Raze in Fracture map? Your comp looks good and map pool just a need more work but DAMN don't be too attached with Yoru - I bet he's gonna be your deadlock last year.

I think the reason why johnqt looks good in using tejo is because tejo's utility are similar with other sentinels agent except the little spider (idk what it is called). That's why tejo is easy to add in any comp. Hopefully, sen will continue to put N4RRATE in initiator, his utility usage is pretty good and he did really good last game.