Games

zekken talks SEN vs. LOUD and shuts down stimulant allegations

BBG News

In a conversation following their triumph against LOUD during the Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) Americas Kickoff 2025, Esports.gg interviewed zekken from Sentinels.

In the 2025 VCT Americas Kickoff tournament, Sentinels are once again putting on a performance reminiscent of their 2024 show. Although the team has undergone some changes this year, Zachary “zekken” Patron remains a constant factor.

In order to advance to the final tournament round, he and his Special Education Needs (SEN) team must face off against G2 Esports. However, before they could do that, they had to overcome LOUD in a previous series. Following this encounter, we chatted with zekken about refuting certain accusations, discussing some of the strategic plays he employed during the game, and delving deeper into the match as well as the current VALORANT game meta.

zekken agrees with Zellsis on the potential of 2025 SEN roster compared to last year

As a gamer, I’m here with Zekken from Sentinels, basking in the afterglow of our epic victory against LOUD. He needs a moment to fire off a tweet, it seems something has got him riled up. Could you share a bit about what’s making him so upset?

Indeed, there’s a discussion going on where people claim I’m using various stimulants such as Adderall, Ritalin, Vyvanse, and many others. These accusations have been around for quite some time. However, the only thing I take is caffeine. It’s frustrating because I keep seeing it so frequently.

I hope you can move past that incident. It’s great that you kept us informed about the situation, but let’s dive right in now. What a thrilling game! That might be one of the best matches we’ll witness this year, and it’s only January. How rapidly is your heart pounding after that excitement?

Indeed, it was a nail-biting competition. It began gradually, and the tension remained high throughout. Towards the finish line, with the score standing around 11:9 or 12:9 in our favor, my pulse quickened noticeably. I found myself getting more engrossed as we approached the end.

As a passionate spectator, after seeing two teams give it their all in an intense matchup, regardless of the outcome, do I find myself elated just to have witnessed such a spectacular display? Absolutely!

To put it simply, I’m quite a competitive person. If I don’t emerge victorious, I might feel quite downcast. However, I was genuinely pleased with the overall gameplay. I believe we both played exceptionally well in this VALORANT match. It seemed like a good one to me.

Correcting each other’s errors, and I believe we both displayed admirable sportsmanship. If we had lost, I would have felt disappointed rather than just accepting it. But I am content with the quality of VALORANT play we exhibited.”

Or simply:

“Engaging in constructive criticism, and we both played well. If we had lost, I would have been upset, but I’m pleased with our VALORANT performance.

With Saadhak and Less transitioning to EMEA, many were skeptical about LOUD’s past victories and their potential performance. Given your team’s reputation, I’m sure you didn’t doubt them, but were you anticipating such stellar results?

Historically, they have consistently shown a strong fighting spirit, regardless of the circumstances. Even when they try unconventional strategies, such as their use of Phoenix in every map during games with Saadhak and qck, this team has proven capable of pulling off unusual compositions.

The opponents have an unconventional approach, yet they consistently put up a strong fight in VALORANT games. Consequently, I anticipated a tight contest. However, I didn’t foresee the game being as close as it turned out to be. I assumed we might win more decisively, but they displayed exceptional skill.

The three maps were extremely tight. When it looked like your team was falling behind on Split and we needed to pick up the pace a bit to win, what thoughts went through your mind? Can you describe how your team communicated and strategized to catch up and eventually secure the victory?

In the heat of the second half during our Split game, we scored from the pistol round. Although we missed out on the bonus, I believe it was a tight call. We followed it up by winning the next round. However, in the fifth round, we faced defeat as they were saving resources (eco) and my shots didn’t pay off with a kill.

Later on, I believe they entered Area A and wrapped up a post-plant situation. During that break, we discussed how crucial it was to tidy up. At that point, we were aware that, at least on defense, we could perform significantly better than our initial five rounds suggested.

Despite being ahead 3-2 during that half, we felt there was room for improvement in our play. I believe that discussion we had, whether it was during a timeout or simply during the break, inspired us to tidy up our game significantly. Consequently, our performance improved noticeably for the remainder of that half and we managed to secure victory.

I need to ask about a couple of moves from the game. The ending of Pearl was quite unexpected. You’re supposed to move into the smoke, shoot the Sova who appears, but there’s another character, Cypher, hidden behind him. After that, you eliminate Jett. Were you taken aback by the second kill since it wasn’t what you were anticipating?

Absolutely correct! I hadn’t anticipated Cypher’s death when I fired at Sova. Initially, I was taken aback, thinking wow. The crowd’s reaction caught my attention, and I thought they were reacting positively to my shot. It wasn’t until I checked the kill feed that I realized both characters had been eliminated by my shot.

Initially, I found myself surprised, then I moved on to find the third one – it was unintentional. However, I believe I acted well given the situation, and occasionally, making smart moves can lead to a bit of luck.

In unexpected situations such as those, an ordinary player could potentially lose their focus due to the tension or exhilaration brought about by the unusual incident. However, for a professional, what factors help maintain your poise during bizarre, high-pressure instances like these?

In this match, it’s crucial to understand clearly what constitutes winning and losing within each round. In my case, after securing those two eliminations, I had the option to retreat and preserve my resources. However, pursuing the third kill was a slight misstep due to potential overheating.

Dgzin was engaged in combat, and since we were close, I assumed it was a skirmish where, if he missed his long-range shot – which can be quite unpredictable – I might have a chance to take him down. However, what truly distinguishes a professional from an average player is the ability to identify what determines a win or loss in those tense moments, and then making the right decisions based on that understanding.

Heading towards Split next, you came close to landing an Ace, but fell short at the end. You took some shots, but not enough paid off. In fact, you switched from the spray to the knife! After that, you switched to the Shorty and secured your fifth place. Can you imagine the backlash from the team if you hadn’t landed that Ace?

In another words: “I definitely would have caused a heated argument, if not a fiery one, without a doubt. I would have faced strong criticism. However, considering the situation, I believed I had shot him in the head. That’s why I didn’t continue shooting. I thought it was all over, but clearly, that wasn’t the case.

In simpler terms, “I believe I only grazed him on the upper part of his chest instead of hitting him squarely. However, given that I was higher ground and had a Shorty, the situation still favored me significantly, unless he instantly killed me, which would have changed the course of that match. Fortunately, that didn’t happen, and I managed to finish him off. But yes, if I had messed up, I surely would have received criticism.

It seems like your impressive plays weren’t solely yours today. The team was consistently making heroic plays – one 4K here, an Ace there, multiple clutch moments. Have you ever pondered if there could be a time when such massive individual plays won’t be available to you, especially in critical series?

In my opinion, a team needs to execute individual plays to secure major trophies. It’s crucial that everyone is at their best, even when they make less-than-ideal decisions. I also believe the current game environment moves much quicker compared to its past iterations.

In 2022, progress with the Chamber was sluggish, and the same could be said for 2023 when FNATIC reigned supreme. However, I believe that in the current game meta, the synergy between Tejo and Breach is outstanding, making for swift plays. Additionally, Yoru’s current strength contributes to this fast-paced style of play.

In other words, quick sequences of actions set up situations where individuals can shine. Therefore, it seems that, given the current game environment, making these individual plays is crucial, and one should seize the chance when it presents itself.

In my opinion, the ideal team should combine strategic strength with the ability to execute individual plays effectively. It requires a robust strategy, yet flexible enough to allow for spontaneous actions when necessary. During our recent match, it seemed like both teams were taking risks without fully executing their strategies.

On several occasions during matches on Lotus, Cauanzin would dash through a cloud of smoke and eliminate 2-3 players. It’s essential to anticipate such moves because that’s simply how the game works given its shooting dynamics.

In an unexpected situation, modern firearm control has advanced to such an extent that three individuals can be neutralized instantly. Therefore, I’m elaborating a bit, but it seems to me that the most successful teams would be a blend of quick actions and strategic planning. The strategy itself is undeniably crucial as well.

Okay, let’s discuss Yoru now. He’s been active throughout today against LOUD. Last year, he was often considered a secondary Duelist, sharing the spotlight with Jett, Raze, and even Neon at times. Can you explain why this year’s meta is so fast-paced and how it benefits Yoru to work independently?

In my view, I’m split right down the middle. On the defensive side, he shares many traits reminiscent of our veteran player, Chamber. The ability to swoop into a position, exact retribution swiftly, and then retreat immediately is an incredibly robust strategy that will always hold its worth in this game.

It’s always an advantage to have a ‘get out of jail free’ card, particularly on defense. That’s what makes him so powerful there. And it’s clear to see why he’s valuable. On offense, his teleport is quite effective against some of the current Sentinels.

The ability of Cypher and Vyse to teleport past the Vyse wall and allow teammates to follow through at their own pace is incredibly beneficial. Additionally, using the clone to disrupt an enemy’s trap or lure them into activating the Vyse wall is also a powerful strategy.

In the present game meta, his equipment is exceptionally advantageous, providing significant returns on offense. However, I feel that he functions best at a more deliberate speed. For instance, if we hadn’t encountered it today, but suppose you face a double Senti composition such as Vyse and Deadlock or Vyse and Killjoy, the gameplay would likely demand a more strategic approach.

It’s crucial to attract those units effectively, and the clone gains significant benefit from it. I believe he’s versatile against multiple team compositions, which is why we find him particularly valuable at the moment. I suspect other teams feel the same way. Essentially, he provides something that many other Duelists can’t.

In simpler terms, “Jett may have an escape card, but she’s still susceptible to traps set by Vyse and Cypher. Raze is great for offense as she can destroy anything, but she lacks a similar escape mechanism when it comes to defense.

Phoenix, Reyna, and Iso are agents with limited resources, if I’m completely honest. A top-notch player can make a difference with Phoenix or Iso, but they don’t bring as much value as Yoru does. In my opinion, Yoru is particularly powerful in the current game metagame.

Additionally, let me share a thought from our conversation with Zellsis. He expressed his belief that the new lineup featuring Bang and N4RRATE instead of TenZ and Sacy has the potential to surpass last year’s team performance. I am curious to know what you think about this possibility as well.

I concur with his views. I find the perceived limit for this team utterly unreasonable. I wouldn’t go as far as labeling us as “scrimmers,” but in certain scrimmages, we do overpower our opponents significantly. This includes not just average teams and players, but even top-tier ones as well.

On certain occasions, we might take control, and while we didn’t demonstrate it yesterday, I am confident that we possess such abilities. It’s much like the sensation from last year when I felt we had an incredibly high potential, and all we required was more practice to reach our peak.

1. “During practice, this team puts in a tremendous effort, yielding significant benefits for us. We strive to minimize wasted time as Kaplan helps us stay focused. I concur with Jordan (Zellsis) wholeheartedly; our team’s potential is astonishingly high, and I hope we can actualize it.”

2. “Our team works extremely hard during practice sessions, making a substantial difference for us. We prioritize efficiency to minimize wasted time, and Kaplan helps us maintain this focus. I fully agree with Jordan (Zellsis) that our potential is sky-high, and I am eager for us to realize it.”

3. “In practice, our team gives their all, resulting in valuable outcomes. We make an effort to maximize efficiency by minimizing wasted time, and Kaplan keeps us on track. I share Jordan (Zellsis)’s view that our potential is enormous, and I hope we can tap into it.”

4. “At practice, this team works incredibly hard, leading to considerable advantages for us. We aim to minimize squandered moments as Kaplan helps us stay alert. I wholeheartedly concur with Jordan (Zellsis); our team’s potential is off the charts, and I pray we can achieve it.”

5. “During practice sessions, our team shows great dedication and yields considerable benefits for us. We focus on efficiency by minimizing wasted time with Kaplan helping us stay focused. I agree wholeheartedly with Jordan (Zellsis); the potential of this team is astronomical, and I am excited to see us reach it.”

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2025-02-05 22:12

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