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Sentinels Welcome OXY as Their First Signing for VCT 2027
Sentinels officially announced the signing of Francis “OXY” Hoang on Monday, November 2, ahead of the 2027 VALORANT season. The North American duelist leaves Cloud9 after three years and becomes Sentinels' first new signing since the departures of Jerrwin and JonahP.
Sentinels unveiled OXY in a video posted on social media with the message “A new star for a new era.” The announcement confirms a move that had been reported since October, when esports outlets said the player had reached an agreement with the organization.
How Did OXY Perform During His Time at Cloud9?
OXY had played for Cloud9 since September 2023, staying with the organization through several roster changes. During that time, he established himself as one of the team's key players, particularly in the duelist role.
One of the highlights of his Cloud9 tenure came at the 2025 VCT Americas Stage 2, where he finished as the tournament's highest-rated player, according to THESPIKE. His individual performance, however, was not enough to earn Cloud9 a place at Champions.
Cloud9 also ended the 2026 season without competing at a Masters event or Champions. The organization's situation changed further when Riot Games left it out of the VCT Americas partnership program for 2027 and 2028. Despite losing its partner status, Cloud9 announced plans to continue competing in VALORANT through the open circuit.
Why Are Sentinels Rebuilding Their Roster?
The signing follows a disappointing season for Sentinels. The team failed to qualify for any international VCT events in 2026. Its VCT Americas Stage 2 campaign ended with a 2-0 loss to KRÜ Esports in the Play-In, ending its hopes of reaching Champions.
That result was followed by more roster changes. The organization parted ways with Gurjiwan “Jerrwin” Gill, who had filled the duelist role, and Jonah “JonahP” Pulice, who had joined during the season. Both spent less than a year with the team.
On October 31, CEO Rob Moore said Sentinels had identified replacements the organization considered “S-tier,” but that the new signings could not be announced until November 2 at the earliest. OXY's introduction came on the first day of that window.
What Does the Sentinels Roster Look Like for VCT 2027?
Alongside OXY, the players who remained on the roster after the two departures are Mohamed Amine “johnqt” Ouarid, Yassin “Reduxx” Aboulalazm and Brazilian player Gabriel “cortezia” Cortez. Sentinels still need to announce at least one more starter to complete their five-player lineup.
Another name linked with the team is Brock “brawk” Somerhalder, who won the 2025 world championship with NRG. According to Lion Esports, the initiator has reached a verbal agreement with Sentinels. However, the organization has not officially confirmed brawk's signing.
With Sentinels retaining its place among the VCT Americas partner teams for 2027 and 2028, OXY joins an organization guaranteed a place in the regional circuit. The challenge now is to return to international competition after missing every international event in 2026.
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Featured Image Credit: Sentinels
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