Did Sentinels Fall Off After TenZ Left? Breaking Down the Post-TenZ Era

Summary:

TenZ was a major impact on Sentinels, and he made them one of the best Valorant teams.

It was the end of an era for both TenZ and the Sentinels when he left Sentinels.

Sentinels have lost some matches to top-tier teams, but you can tell their progression and evolution as a team is surely going up.

When Tyson “TenZ” Ngo announced he was leaving Sentinels, it felt like the entire VALORANT world held its breath. After all, TenZ wasn’t merely a player—he was the entire legacy of Sentinels. As expected, when TenZ announced, there was much to speculate about as analysts and fans alike began to ask the question: what happens to Sentinels now? Is Sentinels ready to prove they are about more than simply being known as TenZ’s team? It’s easy to conclude a team would be doomed after losing a player like TenZ, but the narrative isn’t always so black and white as we thought!

The Rise and Reign of TenZ in Sentinels

Honestly, TenZ’s legacy in Sentinels is legendary. He was over in was over at Cloud9 for a hot minute, but he became one of the most recognizable and powerful players in Valorant history. After joining Sentinels on a loan in 2021, TenZ changed the course of Sentinels’ competitive history with his sick skills. This culminated in a historic win at the VCT Masters Reykjavík 2021, when TenZ won Grand Finals MVP. His career path definitely molded, or at least put a dent in the competitive space of Valorant.

In his time, TenZ has had multiple first-place finishes, along with the big one, VCT Masters Madrid 2024. And his high-level play was consistently at the front of the ever-growing and competitive Valorant scene. His play and skill were so valuable that Sentinels signed a contract with TenZ for a reported $1.25 to $1.5 million. This shows just how valuable he was as a competitive player.

TenZ’s Sudden Goodbye

When TenZ left Sentinels, it was a milestone for the organization, as well as the player himself. After 3+ years, TenZ, considered one of the greatest VALORANT players, made it official and concluded his contract with Sentinels.

As far as we can tell from his exit, it seemed like TenZ might’ve wanted to pursue other aspirations beyond playing VALORANT at a pro level and making content for Sentinels. With his full exit in 2025, you could say this was a larger transition in TenZ’s career and personal pursuits.

Did Sentinels Survive Without Their Star?

Sentinels have shown a solid revival and remained one of the best Valorant teams in the world, thus far reminding everyone that they were not going to fold without their superstar. After sending 2025 off with absolutely insane numbers, Sentinels have an impressive win rate.

They showed an absolutely noteworthy performance at the Valorant Masters Toronto 2025. For instance, they managed to defeat XLG Esports with a clean sweep of 2-0, and the maps were dumpster fires with the final scorelines. They just played well together and as individuals, seeing the way players like zekken and johnqt are playing is great to see, considering their impact to keep them at a high level during major tournaments.

While TenZ might not be in there, Sentinels are still perking up results and adapting to meta and roster shifts. The roster today includes concrete upcoming stars with strategic layers. Clearly, they can consistently give the best teams in North America and abroad a tough time. Yes, they had some rough moments against the best in Paper Rex and Fnatic at Masters Toronto. But they’re still climbing with a 60% win percentage over the last year. Not only that, but they are still currently ranked within the top 5 in North America.

Final Thoughts

So, did Sentinels really go downhill when TenZ left? The answer is not yes or no. Sure, losing a player who was an era-defining player is hard, and the team has taken its lumps. However, Sentinels have been tenacious and took their time dabbling in new approaches, which indicates Sentinels are far from finished. At the end of the day, Sentinels’ story is still being written. TenZ’s legacy will undoubtedly continue to be a large proponent of the team’s identity. But whoever comes in to take their chance at stellar heights will be in the way.

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Stalingrad Dollosa

Stalingrad Dollosa is an award-winning esports journalist with over 5 years of experience covering the global competitive scene. Specializing in titles like Dota 2, CS2, and Mobile Legends, he combines deep game knowledge with a talent for storytelling and analysis. His work has earned industry recognition for its clarity, accuracy, and engaging style. Known for breaking key stories and delivering sharp tournament coverage, Stalingrad brings a professional, data-driven edge to every article. At Fragster, he continues to set the standard in esports reporting, offering fans expert insights and high-quality content that captures the pulse of the game.