VCT Masters Madrid Preview: Sentinels

Sentinels qualified for the VCT Masters Madrid after defeating NRG in the VCT 2024 Americas Kickoff's semifinals. Eventually, the team ended up winning the whole thing as they defeated LOUD in the grand finals. Have the Americans got what it takes to win in Spain?

Let's have a look at the team's first month into the 2024 season!

Results

These are the results that took Sentinels to the roster's first VCT Masters qualification:

• Sentinels 0-2 LOUD (11-13 Split, 9-13 Ascent)
• Sentinels 2-1 100 Thieves (13-5 Lotus, 6-13 Bind, 13-8 Split)
• Sentinels 2-1 Leviatán (13-3 Split, 6-13 Breeze, 13-9 Bind)
• Sentinels 2-0 MIBR (13-7 Split, 13-6 Ascent)
• Sentinels 1-2 G2 Esports (13-8 Sunset, 9-13 Breeze, 9-13 Split)
• Sentinels 2-1 NRG (16-14 Sunset, 8-13 Ascent, 13-3 Split)
• Sentinels 3-2 LOUD (13-9 Sunset, 13-3 Split, 11-13 Icebox, 8-13 Bind, 13-4 Lotus)

The average number of maps played by the VCT Masters Madrid bounds in their respective Kickoff tournaments is 12,6. Sentinels were close to doubling that number with 21 maps played, six more than the next team on the list — LOUD with 15.

Sentinels' season began with a harsh defeat against LOUD, which pushed the red roster to the Elimination Match. Following victories against 100 Thieves and Leviatán, Sentinels sneaked into the Play-In, where they flawlessly defeated MIBR before losing against G2 Esports. Despite finishing the bracket with a defeat, Sentinels got the fourth spot in the Playoffs.

An overtime victory on Sunset was the difference between Sentinels and NRG as the red roster's win qualified the squad for the VCT Masters Madrid. Eventually, the organization would win the VCT 2024 Americas Kickoff with a close victory against LOUD.

Map Picks and Map Vetos

Here's a brief look at Sentinels' map picks and map vetos across the team's first five matches of the season:

Map Picks

Sentinels' main pick at the VCT 2024 Americas Kickoff was Split with the Americans choosing it in four of their seven matches. In fact, Split has been played in every Sentinels series this season, as the map was the decider in the three series it wasn't picked.

Sentinels' record on Split is impressive with six wins and only one defeat at the VCT 2024 Americas Kickoff. Therefore, it's fair to say it's the team's favorite place to be.

The red roster also picked Bind twice (against 100 Thieves and LOUD) and Sunset once (against G2 Esports).

Map Vetos

Before reaching the VCT 2024 Americas Kickoff grand finals, Sentinels banned Icebox from every match they played. This means that the red roster banned Icebox six times as they only played it in their final clash against LOUD (11-13 defeat).

Sentinels' second-most banned map was Ascent (four times) and it was the map they chose to ban against the Brazilians in the grand final. This season, Sentinels have played Ascent three times and currently have a record there of one victory and two defeats — 13-9 vs. LOUD, 13-6 vs. MIBR, and 8-13 vs. NRG.

Additionally, they also banned Breeze twice (against MIBR and NRG) and Lotus (in the first game against LOUD).

Storylines

Here are some of the storylines that surround the Sentinels roster!

Sentinels return to VCT Masters two seasons later

Being a Sentinels fan hasn't been easy for the last two years. After a marvelous 2021 where the organization won the VCT Masters Reykjavík in May 2021, the brand's disappointing performances at the VCT Masters Berlin and the Valorant Champions 2021 preceded an international-less season for Sentinels.

Sentinels' results didn't improve in the 2023 season as the Americans missed out on the VCT Masters Tokyo and the Valorant Champions 2023. Therefore, starting the 2024 season with a championship and a VCT Masters qualification is a breath of fresh air for both players and fans.

Tayson "TenZ" Ngo is the only remaining player in Sentinels who was in the organization's squad that won the VCT Masters Reykjavík in May. 2021. Will the Canadian add a second title later this month?