in my opinion.. despite Americas having a massive asian diaspora, I just think games like League,Overwatch,Valorant don't appeal to the general people and are often seen as "loser" games, compared to COD where the US has a pretty large viewership of non-asian americans. and consoles just dominate the culture around video games in the americas as a whole

Valorant only has 27 agents as of this post but the e-sport needs fearless draft honestly. Seeing the same agents on every map with the only "off-meta" pick this masters (Toronto) being Deadlock on Sunset by GenG. In my opinion this is how it should work:

• In a BO3, teams should play the agents they would usually play on the first map (most likely a mirrored comp) but for the second map, those agents are not able to be played again throughout the series (what fearless draft is) and it creates fun matchups with agents who wouldn't be picked otherwise.

• In a BO5, its tricky but after all the agent pool is used up since its small still, IGLS of the team should be able to pick ONLY agents they need filled in until all the agent pool is used up and the Agents banned are reset.

This would make games way more fun and not just spam of certain comp on every map or spam of certain agents who are OP at the time.

if sen wasn't so washed, they would be without ANY trophy still 😭

Tenz retiring specifically is in my opinion, the biggest downfall of Sentinels this year. But overall Sentinels have looked un-inspiring, slaves to the meta, and have no "flashy" factor anymore.

• Tenz and Bang are two different players and Bang is a great player but he does not fill Tenz shoes. Tenz speciality last year was his aggressive playstyle along with Zekken but his ability to Op , and hold very tight off angles really helped the team with advantages whether its through a kill by Tenz or info. Bang has his moments but it often comes in a form of a clutch which is GREAT but is it really sustainable? Kaplan needs to ask Bang to play a style like Tenz on Omen to help Zekken entry because that was what really worked for Sentinels last year, Tenz and Zekken entrying.

• Johnqt unfortunately has really fallen off as a fragging IGL. Last year he was almost ALWAYS up there with Zekken and Tenz, and even put up better numbers than one or both. But he looks slow, not as snappy and loses in positions that he would be favorable in even if it isnt the best spot just by last year standards. I do think though, that potential role issues are playing a part in his performance.

• Narrate is a solid player, and he had a good showing at Toronto but I personally feel like he is being asked to do the bare minimum because of the role he plays and his performances haven't been inspiring because of it. We all know he is mechanically gifted but his role doesn't let him shine which leads me to the question of potential role issues or simply: players playing roles that dont help them get the best out of them. (zekken on omen for example, on icebox)

• Kaplan will always be loved for Madrid , top 4 at champs last year and frankly helping revive a somewhat dying org with a passionate but miserable fanbase but I think questions are needed to arise about him as a coach now. Sentinels look slow, un-creative, rely on Zekken to carry them (big reason why I think Tenz retiring fucked this team) and they just overall look lost when the game gets to a point of pressure and honestly, their raw talent is what gets them over the edge. So far this year, they have lost 2 regional finals to G2 who are known chokers at this point, got grouped at Bangkok (13 - 1 liquid) and got bounced at Toronto after only beating Chinese teams. Has the team improved? maybe, but nothing so far indicates to the idea that they can WIN champs or even go far at all.