Sentinels Eliminated from Champions 2025 by XLG

On day 7 of VALORANT Champions 2025 in Paris, the North American giants Sentinels were eliminated from the tournament after a shocking loss to XLG Esports. The result means Sentinels are going out in last place, never having reached the Accor Arena, after XLG completed a hard-fought reverse sweep to win the series 2-1.

Reverse Sweep Secures XLG’s Survival

Sentinels looked in control early on, taking Abyss 13-10. With N4RRATE spearheading the attack, Johnqt’s side delivered a disciplined performance to secure the opening map. At that point, it seemed like Sentinels had stabilized and were on track for a straightforward series win.

However, XLG weren’t ready to go down quietly. The VCT CN top seed showcased their scrappy resilience on their pick of Lotus, making life difficult for Sentinels at every turn. Both Zekken and happywei delivered incredible performances for their respective sides, but in the end it was XLG who narrowly edged the map 13-11. The close result set the stage for a dramatic decider.

With momentum on their side, XLG stormed through Haven to dismantle Sentinels. Their aggressive attack side helped establish a commanding lead, backed by standout performances from happywei and NoMan. Sentinels struggled to keep up the pace, eventually conceding the map 13-8 as XLG sealed the reverse sweep and booked their place in the next elimination match against GIANTX.

Another Disappointment for Sentinels

For Sentinels, this elimination marks another painful chapter in their recent international struggles. What was once the most dominant powerhouse in VALORANT continues to falter on the global stage. Their last title remains Masters Madrid in 2024, and since then, the team has struggled to reclaim their peak form. The retirements of TenZ and Sacy, additionally, have also taken away much of the team’s hype.

In between going out in last place at Masters Bangkok and managing a 5th-6th place at Masters Toronto, and with G2 taking away all the Americas trophies in their historic three-peat run, Sentinels have gone a whopping 545 days without lifting any kind of silverware.

Sentinels’ early elimination at Champions 2025 underscores their ongoing decline and inability to adapt to the shifting competitive landscape. With G2 setting the bar and new challengers like XLG rising quickly, the once-feared juggernauts now face pressing questions about their future trajectory.

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Featured Image Credit: Adela Sznajder/Riot Games

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