Zekken: “Working towards G2, this event helped us a lot.” – EWC VALORANT Interview

The quick nature of the Esports World Cup format meant that Sentinel’s quarter-final run lasted only three days. However, that was enough to see them reach the EWC VALORANT final eight and, crucially, reach further than Americas rivals G2. After their elimination was confirmed at the hands of Masters Toronto winners Paper Rex, we spoke to Sentinels’ duelist Zachary “zekken” Patrone for an interview.

Hotspawn: What are your thoughts coming off of the loss to Paper Rex?

How did facing them at the EWC VALORANT event compare to Toronto?

Zekken: Yeah, [the] series definitely didn’t go how we wanted. I think map one we shot like terrible, no one could hit a shot, including me. I played really bad. But map 2, we finally got our footing and we’re able to shoot a bit better, but we just made some small mistakes and I think that’s what cost us the game.

It was pretty similar to Toronto. I think both times, map one, they beat us very easily, but map two, we had better maps. I do think we improved compared to Toronto, even if it was still a 0-2. So there is some progress to be happy about for us. But yeah, not the result we wanted.

I’m sure it’s nice to have gone further than G2 at this tournament, despite their roster difficulties.

How can Sentinels overtake G2 and win VCT Americas Stage 2?

I think working towards G2, this event helped us a lot with that. Just being able to face different play styles and be able to adapt better and have better communication. I think we’re going to be able to look at a lot of our games, watch our games back, and also a lot of the games of the other teams, and see what they’re doing right. It’ll be an easy road for us to improve and hopefully be able to overtake G2.

This year, the retirements of Sacy and TenZ left you as Sentinels’ longest-serving member, despite still being a young player.

Did that add any pressure on you to become a leader within the team?

I don’t really feel a pressure. I think I have some leadership qualities that have always been there, even when I was very young. I think it’s funny that I’m the youngest player on the team, but I’m also the longest-standing player on the team. So I think that’s kind of funny, but I don’t really think there’s a pressure, crazy pressure to be a leader.

I think all five of us have some leadership qualities within us, and obviously we have great leaders: johnqt and also Kaplan. I chime in a good bit, but I don’t think there’s any crazy push for me to be a big leader within the team.

How have you found Corrode so far?

I think it’s fun. I think it’s a more defensive-sided [map] than some previous maps, which I think is good. It’s good to have some of that variety in the game.

I’m excited to see how the meta starts developing.I know China started their split already, so you got to see a little bit of Corrode. I’m just excited to see where the meta goes with it.