A new chapter is about to begin for North American esports powerhouse Sentinels, as the organisation officially joins the League Championship Series (LCS) for the 2026 season.

The move marks Sentinels’ full return to League of Legends after nearly a decade away, and it comes at a transformative moment for the league as it reverts to an independent model. Sentinels will take over the Provisional Guest Team slot, becoming the LCS’s eighth permanent partner team and ushering in fresh rivalries, energy, and storylines for North American fans.

The next era of Sentinels pic.twitter.com/PoHiBWZ0ET

— Sentinels (@Sentinels) October 10, 2025

From Phoenix1 to Sentinels

For long-time followers of the LCS, this isn’t Sentinels’ first time on the Rift. Before the organisation became known for its VALORANT success, its roots lay in Phoenix1, which competed in the LCS between Summer 2016 and Summer 2017.

Phoenix1 had a memorable run, finishing third in the 2017 Spring Split and producing standout moments like Noh “Arrow” Dong-hyeon earning the Split MVP title and Mike “MikeYeung” Yeung being crowned Rookie of the Split that summer. The team also represented North America at the inaugural Rift Rivals, helping the region defeat Europe 4–2 — including a clean sweep against G2 Esports.

Now, as Sentinels, they aim to build on that legacy and bring their trademark confidence and flair back to the league.

Building a Future in League

Sentinels CEO Rob Moore called the move “the next stage in Sentinels’ evolution,” highlighting how the organisation’s journey from Fortnite to VALORANT and now League of Legends represents a natural progression.

“We value our relationship with Riot, we respect the history of the LCS, and we are committed to bringing the same level of preparation, resources, and fan experience that our community expects from Sentinels,” Moore said.

Sentinels have already proven themselves on the world stage with two international VALORANT trophies, and Moore believes that same formula of investment, infrastructure, and fan engagement can carry over to League.

According to Riot’s announcement, the team will invest in multi-year coaching, player development, and infrastructure to create a roster that mixes veteran experience with emerging talent. Staffing details, roster reveals, and community initiatives will be shared in the coming months.

A Cheeky Welcome

The announcement came with a humorous touch, a video featuring legendary LCS player Yiliang “Doublelift” Peng wearing a Sentinels jersey. While Doublelift confirmed he won’t be joining the roster, the cameo was a fitting nod to the region’s rich history and Sentinels’ ability to blend competition with entertainment.

Fellow LCS teams also joined in on the fun, including Shopify Rebellion’s Ibrahim “Fudge” Allami, who recorded a lighthearted welcome video from Sentinels’ own signature red chair. Even G2 Esports couldn’t resist joining the banter after Moore joked on X about “a commitment to beating G2.”

Looking Ahead

With their official League of Legends division now confirmed, Sentinels are ready to expand their footprint in Riot Games’ ecosystem. The organisation already competes in VALORANT, Apex Legends, StarCraft II, and Marvel Rivals, and even runs Cubert Academy, a development program aimed at nurturing up-and-coming talent.

Their re-entry into the LCS represents not just a comeback, but a continuation of their long-standing vision: to build competitive teams that fans can connect with across every major title.

The Sentinels’ return is more than nostalgia. It’s a statement, one that promises fierce competition, high production value, and the kind of entertainment that’s made them one of the most recognisable names in esports today.

The post Sentinels Join the LCS in 2026, Reigniting Their League of Legends Legacy appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Sentinels are gearing up for major roster experiments ahead of the 2026 VALORANT Champions Tour season. In a recent update, the organisation’s Co-owner and CEO, Rob Moore, confirmed that the team will be testing several players from its academy programme to see which line-up combinations have the most potential moving forward.

Sen City, over the next few weeks, you can expect to see a lot of speculation regarding our roster for next season. In 2024, we brought home a domestic title and an international title. In 2025, we qualified for every international event but didn’t bring home any trophies. We…

— Rob Moore (@robmooreEsports) October 8, 2025

Moore shared the update on X (formerly Twitter), noting that while star players Zachary ‘zekken’ Patrone and team captain Mohammed ‘johnqt’ Amine Quario are travelling this week, the Cubert Academy roster will get the chance to trial with the main Sentinels team. Head Coach Adam ‘kaplan’ Kaplan and his staff will be evaluating how each academy member performs in scrims and practice matches.

“While Zekken and Johnqt are travelling this week, we will be giving some of the Cubert Academy players the opportunity to trial with the main roster,” Moore explained. “Kaplan and the group are evaluating which roster combinations they believe have the most potential for 2026 and beyond. We’ll definitely be keeping TacticalRab and VCT Scrims busy as you’ll see a lot of variation. Try and hang in there, you’ll hear from us soon.”

Among those expected to get trial opportunities are:

• Yassin ‘reduxx’ Aboulalazm
• Marc-Andre ‘NiSMO’ Tayar
• Christian ‘nightz’ Smith
• Mirel ‘Kyu’ Braco Hrustemovic
• ‘satellite’

The announcement follows a mixed 2025 season for Sentinels. The team managed to qualify for every international VALORANT event, but ultimately fell short of any major championship wins.

Reflecting on 2024’s Highs and 2025’s Challenges

In 2024, Sentinels were at the top of their game, taking home both a domestic and an international title. They claimed victory at the VCT Americas Kickoff, defeating LOUD 3–2 in a dramatic Grand Final, and later secured the VALORANT Masters Madrid championship after another 3–2 win against Gen.G Esports. The team also placed a respectable fourth at VALORANT Champions 2024.

However, 2025 proved to be more of a grind. Despite strong performances, the squad couldn’t convert any of their runs into trophies. Sentinels placed second in the VCT Americas Kickoff, seventh at Masters Bangkok, and second again at Americas Stage 1 after falling to G2 Esports 1–3. They finished sixth at Masters Toronto, fifth at the Esports World Cup, and third in Americas Stage 2.

Their season ended on a disappointing note with an early exit from VALORANT Champions 2025, where they were eliminated in the Group Stage, finishing among the bottom eight teams.

Fans React and Look Ahead

Moore’s transparency about the team’s next steps has been met with appreciation from fans online, many praising the open communication during what’s likely a pivotal off-season. Some have even thrown in their own suggestions for roster moves, with one viral reply urging Sentinels to sign Brazilian superstar aspas.

While there’s no word yet on permanent roster changes, Moore’s comments make it clear that Sentinels are taking a methodical approach toward rebuilding for 2026, and fans can expect plenty of variation in scrims over the coming weeks.

The post Sentinels Begin Trials with Cubert Academy for VCT 2026 Roster appeared first on Shane the Gamer.