TenZ opens up about everything: a summary of his latest interview

Valorant

24 Oct

Andre Guaraldo

In a recent interview with the former Counter-Strike professional player turned content creator, Sean "seang@res" Gares, Tyson "TenZ" Ngo, popularly known as the "Internet King", opened up about his journey in competitive Valorant, Sentinels' turbulent 2023 season, his evolving role in the team, and the challenges of maintaining high standards in the face of soaring expectations.

What went wrong in 2023?

The interview delved into Sentinels' 2023 season, which did not meet the high expectations set by the team's past successes. TenZ identified several factors that contributed to Sentinels' underwhelming performance. He pointed out that the team faced difficulties in building a cohesive identity, with various roster changes and role swaps causing confusion and inconsistency in their gameplay. Issues related to players' roles, character choices, and conforming to an evolving meta were key concerns.

"The season just felt like everything was going wrong… there was a disconnect, and the meta changes didn't help."

Sentinels tried their best to make the newly formed 2023 roster go deep in tournaments but weren't succesful (credits: Riot)

Sentinels tried their best to make the newly formed 2023 roster go deep in tournaments but weren't successful (credits: Riot)

TenZ new role in the team

One of the key revelations in the interview was TenZ's evolving role within the Sentinels squad. Although he initially made his name as a Jett main, he explained that his role had transitioned to a more supportive, flexible position. He indicated that he felt more comfortable on characters like KAYO and Yoru and saw himself as a player who could provide innovative and creative strategies, focusing on teamwork and setting up his teammates.

"When I was playing Jett full-time, I was on a higher sens, but as a duelist, my role changed to be less aggressive. So, I've adapted to a slower sense now."

Teammates & scrims

TenZ shared insights into his current teammates, praising their dedication, energy, and comms. He particularly highlighted Zachary "Zombs" Miles, describing him as an impressive player who brings both mechanics and communication skills. Additionally, TenZ mentioned that Sentinels is known for taking scrims seriously, often performing well in practice games.

"We sat down and talked about what went wrong after the tournaments. It was really beneficial for all of us."

Zombs was one of the main influences to TenZ recent career adjustments (credits: Sentinels)

Pressure & expectations

As a highly regarded player, TenZ discussed the immense pressure and expectations placed on him by fans and the community. He revealed that expectations of consistent 30-bomb performances created additional pressure and that he felt more confident when surrounded by energetic and motivated teammates. The conversation acknowledged the need for a balance between confidence and humility in a competitive environment.

"Ideally, you don't want to feel pressure, but in competitive esports, you're going to feel it. Especially for players joining Sentinels, it can be overwhelming."

Career influences for TenZ

Seangares probed TenZ about the influential figures in his career who helped shape his playstyle. TenZ cited several Counter Strike players he played with. Their approaches to in-game leadership and strategy left a lasting impact on him.

"I played with a bunch of people in CS like Shinobi, Insta, PTR, and Ocean. I learned a lot about leadership from them."

JohnQt transfer

The discussion swiftly shifted to the addition of JohnQt to the Sentinels roster. TenZ explained how JohnQt's flexibility and ability to adapt to various roles and agents brought much-needed stability to the team. He praised JohnQt's role versatility and how it contributed to the team's comfort and consistency, ultimately enhancing their performance.

"John is everything we wanted and more. It's great for player comfort and role consistency."

JohnQT is expected to bring robust changes to the team aiming to fight for the top once again (credits: Sentinels)

Sideshow video criticizing TenZ

Seangares asked TenZ about his thoughts on Sideshow's critical analysis video, which scrutinized Sentinels' gameplay. While TenZ had not watched the entire video, he was aware of the content and discussed the importance of addressing the team's disconnect and issues highlighted in the video. He acknowledged that Sentinels' gameplay wasn't always on the same page and pointed out areas where the team needed to improve.

"We weren't playing our best, and there was a disconnect. I wasn't comfortable with the meta change."

Sentinels as an organization

The interview delved into the pressure and expectations placed on Sentinels as an organization and its players. TenZ discussed the unique challenges of playing for a high-profile organization and how both fan and organizational pressure can impact the team's performance. He acknowledged the importance of finding a balance between external expectations and internal performance.

"It can be challenging to adapt to both fan and organizational pressure. It can affect performance."

Direction Valorant is taking

TenZ shared his thoughts on the direction Valorant was taking with recent changes, including the restriction of abilities and updates to maps. He predicted that double controller compositions would become prevalent due to the strength of characters like Viper and the capabilities of agents like Skye. He emphasized the impact of changes in the game's meta on team compositions and strategies.

"We'll see a lot of double controller compositions due to the strength of agents like Viper and Skye. If Riot wants to change that, they might need to nerf Viper."

Future content creation for TenZ

TenZ also expressed his enthusiasm for content creation and emphasized its importance for players' personal brands, as well as its entertainment value for fans. He mentioned that he was enjoying creating content and how it offered a fun way to engage with the community.

"Content is beneficial for everyone – it's fun, and there are no downsides. It's essential for personal brand growth and community engagement."

Conclusion

In summary, TenZ's interview with Seangares shed light on the challenges Sentinels faced in 2023, his evolving role in the team, the contrast between their 2021 and 2022 performances, the importance of supportive teammates, and the pressure he encounters from fans and the community. While the competitive journey may be arduous, TenZ's adaptability and drive to succeed continue to make him an essential figure in the world of professional Valorant.

You can watch the whole interview here

Featured image credits: Sentinels X/Twitter