After three years of highlights, heartbreaks, and international battles, Zachary “zekken” Patrone has officially parted ways with Sentinels, marking the end of an era for one of North America’s most electric VALORANT players.

A Farewell Fit for a Star

Sentinels confirmed the news with a heartfelt post on X, thanking their long-time Duelist and recognising his legacy within the organisation.

You set the bar for what it means to be a Sentinel

There will always be a key to the city for you @zekkenVAL pic.twitter.com/mHtOuN2gsE

— Sentinels (@Sentinels) November 1, 2025

The 20-year-old departs as a free agent after his contract expired at the end of the 2025 VCT season. His time with Sentinels saw the organisation return to the top of the Americas region, and at one point, reclaim their status as one of the most feared teams in global VALORANT.

From XSET Prodigy to Sentinels Star

Zekken first joined Sentinels in late 2022 after an impressive stint with XSET, a team that was dominant in the pre-franchise era. Known for his confident playstyle and flexible agent pool, he initially shared Duelist duties with Tyson “TenZ” Ngo before later transitioning into hybrid roles.

His defining year came in 2024, when Sentinels lifted two major trophies: VCT Americas Kickoff and Masters Madrid. Those victories marked the organisation’s first titles since 2021 and cemented zekken’s reputation as one of the world’s premier Duelists.

Sentinels also achieved a respectable fourth-place finish at Champions Seoul 2024, closing the year as one of the most successful teams globally.

The Rebuild Year

However, 2025 proved more turbulent. After veterans TenZ and Sacy retired, Sentinels underwent a soft rebuild, introducing new faces while retaining core leadership in Johnqt and Kaplan. The team remained competitive but struggled to maintain consistency on the international stage.

Despite qualifying for every major event that year, Sentinels couldn’t replicate their 2024 form. They finished as runners-up at both the Americas Kickoff and Stage 1, followed by a third-place result in Stage 2. Internationally, they exited early at Masters Bangkok, placed 5th–6th at Masters Toronto, and failed to advance past groups at Champions Seoul.

With Zellsis departing to Cloud9 and Bang moving on earlier in the offseason, zekken’s exit now marks a full transition period for the squad.

The Next Chapter: MIBR on the Horizon

According to reports from THESPIKE.GG and Brazilian journalist Bruno Povoleri, zekken is expected to join MIBR, forming a new superteam alongside world champion Erick “aspas” Santos.

The move would unite two of the most mechanically gifted players in the Americas, sparking excitement, and plenty of memes, across social media.

Fans have already dubbed the potential roster “MIBR Zekken,” with comments flooding Sentinels’ farewell post:

“MIBR ARE WINNING IT ALL.”
“Sad to see him go, but happy to see him with aspas again.”
“O7 King. End of an era.”

If confirmed, the transfer could make MIBR one of the top contenders heading into VCT 2026, especially given aspas’ championship pedigree and zekken’s aggressive versatility.

What’s Next for Sentinels

For Sentinels, all eyes are now on their next rebuild phase. Reports suggest the team will retain Marshall “N4RRATE” Massey and Mohamed “johnqt” Ouarid, with potential additions including former MIBR player Gabriel “qck” Cortez and IGL Mirel “braco” Hrustemovic.

Head coach Adam “Kaplan” Kaplan and assistant Luke “GUNTER” Clives are also expected to continue leading the lineup into 2026, aiming to restore Sentinels’ international dominance.

Despite the shakeup, Sentinels’ fanbase remains as passionate as ever, a testament to how deeply players like zekken have defined the team’s identity.

End of an Era, Start of Another

Zekken’s departure feels bittersweet for many fans. While it marks the close of a memorable chapter for Sentinels, it also opens a new one filled with potential. Whether he’s repping the red of Sentinels or the green and yellow of MIBR, one thing is certain, zekken’s story in VALORANT is far from over.

The post Zekken Departs Sentinels After Three-Year Journey, Reportedly Joining MIBR for VCT 2026 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.