Sentinels Announce TenZ's Retirement as He Shifts Focus to Content Creation

North American esports organization Sentinels has officially announced the retirement of star player Tyson "TenZ" Ngo. Moving forward, the 23-year-old will transition into a content creation role with the organization.

TenZ began his professional gaming career in the Counter-Strike scene before switching to Valorant in 2020, joining Cloud9. In March 2021, he made headlines by replacing sinatraa on the Sentinels roster, leading the team to impressive victories in Stage 1 and 2 of the North American VCT. At the VCT 2021 Masters Reykjavík, TenZ delivered a dominant performance, with the team going undefeated and TenZ earning the MVP title.

Challenges After Early Success

Despite their initial triumphs, both Sentinels and TenZ faced difficulties in the following years. At Masters Berlin, the team finished in 8th place, and at Champions 2021, they were eliminated during the group stage. The struggles continued into 2022, as Sentinels failed to qualify for the world championship.

In 2023, the team’s fortunes did not improve. TenZ had to step back from competition due to a finger injury, and the team ended the season in 7th place in the league with a 4-5 record. They managed a 4th place finish in the LCQ, but it wasn’t enough to regain their former glory.

Transition to a Support Role in 2024

Ahead of the 2024 season, Sentinels added johnqt and Zellsis to their roster, while TenZ transitioned to a support role, playing agents like Omen, KAY/O, and Gekko. The duelist role was handed over to zekken. Despite the shift in roles, the team found some success, winning the offseason "Sentinels Invitational" and "AfreecaTV League." In the 2024 season, they claimed victory at the Kickoff Americas tournament and Masters Madrid, although they fell short of qualifying for Masters Shanghai, ultimately finishing 4th at Champions 2024.

Life After Esports

TenZ announced his retirement via X (formerly Twitter), explaining that he wanted to focus on content creation and other aspects of his life. He also expressed his desire to retire on a high note, preferring to step away before the 2024 season officially started.

The Sentinels are now faced with the challenge of moving forward without one of their most iconic players, leaving fans eager to see how the team adapts in the future.