Sentinels Make History as First Two-Time Valorant Masters Champions, Shattering Viewership Records
Cover-Credits:
Sentinels have once again written their names in the history books as they clutch the VCT Masters Madrid trophy in a nailbiting grand final versus Gen.G Esports. The match ended with a score of 3:2 and drew over 1.6 million Peak Viewers, setting a new viewership record for Valorant esports. With this victory, Sentinels are now the only team to win two VCT Masters events with the first being at Masters Reykjavik in 2021. Let’s take a look at exactly how Sentinels manifested destiny to win VCT Masters Madrid.
Sentinels Come Back From the Lower Bracket to Take Revenge
Led by standout performances from Tyson "TenZ" Ngo and Zachary "zekken" Patrone, Sentinels showcased their dominance throughout the tournament. Zekken's impressive 101/85/29 KDA and 27 first-blood kills across all five maps earned him the MVP title, further cementing his status as one of the best players in the world. TenZ, the only player to have been part of both Sentinels' Masters Reykjavik and Madrid championship victories, displayed exceptional growth and versatility, playing two different roles during the tournament runs.
Sentinels Showed Their Adaptability After Losing the Upper Bracket Finals
The grand final against Gen.G was a closely contested series, with both teams showcasing their skills and strategies. Gen.G's rookie controller, Kim "Karon" Won-tae, played a pivotal role in their strong performance, particularly in securing clutch rounds and maintaining strategic composure.
Despite Gen.G's strong showing, Sentinels' resilience and adaptability were evident in their gameplay. They turned the tide on maps like Bind and Split, showcasing their ability to effectively adjust strategies and counter their opponents. Jordan "Zellsis" Montemurro's Killjoy on Icebox was instrumental in securing the final map victory, as he effectively countered Gen.G's lurk plays and secured crucial kills.
Record-Breaking Viewership
The grand final match between Sentinels and Gen.G also made history off the battlefield, shattering viewership records for Valorant esports. VCT Masters Madrid achieved the highest peak viewership of any Valorant tournament up to that point, with a staggering 1.6 million peak viewers tuning in to watch the final showdown.
This record-breaking viewership is a testament to the intense competition and the rise of co-streamers and alternative streams on platforms like TikTok, which further boosted engagement with the event. Community streamers and watch parties, including the likes of tarik and Kyedae, also played a significant role in attracting viewers with tarik regularly passing even the official Valorant channel in terms of viewers.
