Say it with me—we heckin love TenZ!
Tyson Van Ngo, better known as TenZ, just announced his retirement from competitive “Valorant.” Despite coming off a successful season—winning Masters Madrid and placing top four in Champions Seoul—in a video posted on YouTube, TenZ explained the reason behind the decision.
According to him, being a professional player took so much of his time and he wanted to dedicate more of it to pursuits outside the game. He also explained that this was a decision made even before this year’s season started. “For 2024, I definitely poured my heart and soul into this year and tried to be the best that I could.” He added, “I’m just really glad that I was able to leave my mark within ‘Valorant’ history and be remembered for that.”
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Since he started playing “Valorant” in 2020, no other professional player has come close to the level of fame and respect he has amassed from both his fellow peers and his fans all over the world. His departure is sure to leave a void we don’t see getting filled anytime soon—and we’re not just talking about his skills on the server, but his easygoing personality that has garnered him the fanbase he currently has.
All good things must come to an end and in honor of Valorant’s humble king, here are our favorite moments from TenZ.
It’s his world and we’re just living in it
TenZ just exudes main-character energy and his dominating run in the early days of “Valorant” was a testament to that.
Yes, Tyson, that is your name
If hitting out-of-this-world shots and putting up insane stats was all it took to be a popular e-sports professional then everyone could do it. TenZ was more than that and his wholesomeness in and out of the game pulled many to root for him.
A career-defining clip
When you’re a player of his caliber, people just expect greatness from you every single game—but this shot—outrageous, even by his own standard.
TenZ is Jett
Clip after clip, TenZ became synonymous with Jett, and what better way to personify that than by cosplaying as her?
New agent, same task
When TenZ officially made the transition to play as Omen, many thought they wouldn’t be able to see the same aggressive style he came to be known for. Guess they were wrong.
A scriptwriter’s wet dream
Qualifying for this year’s Masters Madrid (and later winning it) was the first time TenZ and Sentinels made it into an international event after three years. What he did in the first round of his first game in the tournament—couldn’t have written it any better.
The Terminator is in the server
Despite losing to Team Heretics for their last game in Champions Seoul, TenZ put up amazing numbers and put Sentinels on his back together with teammate Zekken. In hindsight, it could be said that it was him putting up a final effort in the face of defeat.
A comeback story for the ages
After winning Masters Reykjavik in 2021, TenZ and Sentinels encountered a rough patch and had two straight disappointing seasons. Lifting the Masters Madrid trophy at the start of 2024 was clearly vindication for everyone who supported them since the beginning.
