- Sentinels got the last spot for the upcoming 2022 NA VCT Challengers Two
- The team got their revenge on Akrew, dominating them with a score of 2-0
- Sentinels will face off against the likes of OpTic, C9, and FaZe at the NA VCT Challengers Two
The second VALORANT qualifier for 2022 NA VCT Challengers Two ended with a victory for Sentinels, earning the team the 12th spot in the upcoming main event.
Sentinels Dominate Akrew
Sentinels are one of the most celebrated VALORANT teams in the world, yet even this highly skilled roster has very close calls from time to time. One such was at this year’s second VALORANT qualifier for 2022 NA VCT Challengers Two, where the team faced off against Akrew. Sentinel’s opponents proved to be more than a match for them, almost depriving the Los Angeles-based organization of the final spot for the VCT Challengers.
Akrew had their sights on Sentinels way before the last match when they sent them down to the lower bracket after a 2-0 upset in the upper bracket round-of-16. This meant that Sentinels had to win five straight series just to sneak into the 2022 NA Stage Two group stage. The former 2021 Masters One and Two champions managed to get back on their feet in the first four series (all 2-0 wins), and even took the lead in their rematch with Akrew with a 13-1 on Haven.
Sentinels Had a Shaky Climb
The team’s climb to the top was not easy. Sentinels were knocked out of playoffs early after two straight losses to The Guard and Version1 in the NA Stage One main event, leading to their current situation. This meant they would miss an international LAN for just the first time. However, Sentinels quickly got back on their feet, making the first roster change in over a year. Ironically, the team signed former Akrew’s former sentinel/initiator flex player Eric “Kanpeki” Xu.
Kanpeki was quickly thrown into battle in the first open qualifier for Stage Two. He helped his new team defeat his previous roster, however, Sentinels fell to two qualifying teams in FaZe and Luminosity. Despite the shaky start, the team managed to steamroll through the lower bracket I the second qualifier, perhaps in small part due to Sentinels resigning Rawkus as a coach.
With their spot at the NA VCT Stage Two main event secured, Sentinels will have less than a week to prepare for it. The event starts on Friday, May 13, and Sentinels will go up against regional favorites like OpTic, C9, and The Guard, as well as newcomers to VALORANT like FaZe Clan.
