Sentinels Bounce Back After Loss Against Edward, Defeating FNATIC

Fall down seven times, stand up eight. Sentinels VCT2024 lower bracket journey begins. An incredible display of resiliency shows through the Sentinels in their match against FNATIC. 

The North American team, Sentinels, faced an upsetting loss in the upper bracket run during their match against Edward Gaming. This put their championship dreams on the line as they were pushed back into the lower bracket of VALORANT Champions Seoul 2024. 

Stakes were high for both teams, as the losing team will settle in the 5th–6th bracket of the tournament. However, with Sentinel’s experience in the pressuring environment, they eventually won the match against FNATIC 2-1.

Map 1: Sunset: Sentinels’ Comeback

Sentinels have been playing well in the Sunset for the duration of the tournament. This match is no different from it, as the squad showed a fierce comeback performance. 

The European powerhouse, FNATIC, opened the series with an impressive defense that built the gap to 8-4 by halftime. Meanwhile, the Sentinels have been struggling to break down this defense, thus failing to maintain close contention for the first half. 

The second half was better for the Sentinels as the teams switched sides. With an impenetrable defense, the score in the second half ended at 9-3. Sentinels eventually clinched the win at sunset with 13-11. It shows a great adjustment from the side of Sentinels. 

Map 2: Bind-FFNATIC Evens the Score

The loss in the first match made FNATIC thirstier for a win, as they took one against the Sentinels in the Bind. The map saw a rerun of the occurrences in the Sunset, only that teams are in switched positions. 

The Sentinels started their defense and took the lead 7-5 at halftime. However, FNATIC brewed an epic performance in the second half to make an 8-2 run. This ends the match on the map with 13-9 to even up the series. 

Map 3: Lotus: Sentinels Secure the Victory

A third and final decisive match played out between the Sentinels and FNATIC. Both teams are in desperate positions to continue their bid for the championship title.

The Sentinels early displayed an impeccable defense to limit their opponent’s 8-4 performance in the first half. With the help of their determination, they escaped the brink of elimination as they secured their momentum in the second half. The map closed out with a commanding 13-6 scoreline, enough to take home the series 2-1. 

Standout Players

Certainly, these players showed up in their best suits as they met in an intense matchup. They brought an immense contribution to their team that helped secure the match. 

Sentinels’ Zekken has been showing an impressive performance since the beginning of the tournament. In this match, he delivered 54 kills and 19 assists, which were crucial factors in the Sentinels’ victory. 

However, not only one player performed for the Sentinels. Johnqt delights the Sen City with his 55 kills and 14 assists performance to help lead the team to success. 

Despite their loss, FNATIC’s Chronicle and Derke showed up for the team to give them a commendable performance. Chronicle ended the series with a total of 59 kills and 24 assists. This gameplay earned him the match MVP title. 

On the other hand, Derke racked up an astounding 61 kills and 10 assists in their final lower bracket match. Although the team showed great effort, another team played better. 

Team Statistics

Their great command in the pacing of the game let the Sentinels climb back up the hill. The team secured 35 out of the 65 rounds in their game series. They set up a strategic offense to win them 10 successful bomb plants. Their defensive pattern has also been stellar as they defend against 11 bomb plants from FNATIC. 

Although FNATIC fell short on their championship bid, they managed to put up a strong fight against their opponent. Only 30 of the 65 rounds rolled in their favor and led to a successful nine-time bomb planting. However, the team’s defense struggled in the match, as they only defended 12 bomb plants. 

Conclusion

This victory assured the Sentinels a top-4 finish at VALORANT Champions 2024. However, FNATIC’s defeat puts an end to their journey as they settle in 5th or 6th place with a prize of $85,000. 

Expect tougher competition as the Sentinels get closer to the podium. Their next match will be against Team Heretics, which is another formidable team in the league. This will serve as the lower bracket semifinal match to see who will move forward on the next stage. 

The ticket to the lower bracket finals remained open as Sentinels may shot its chance for the spot.