Somebody Help TenZ

Cloud9 have risen up through the ranks in the North American VALORANT scene, but seem to have plateaued. However, throughout their troubles, there has remained one constant - star player Tyson "TenZ" Ngo. Statistically, through the eye test, even with regards to flexibility as one of the teams best riflers, one of their better OP players, and a go-to entry fragger, TenZ needs some help - because he is a special player and Cloud9 is just shy of consistently fighting for major domestic titles.

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During their most recent outing at the Knights Invitational Gauntlet Series, Cloud9 managed a competitive finish landing at third-place, which isn't anything to shake your head at. However, when we look at the team's performances statistically, some red flags begin to arise. 

TenZ scored an average combat score of 282 across all eight of their games. This includes games against top tier opponents like TSM, and more amateur bouts like Spot Up and Luminosity Gaming. The next highest performer from the same event was Daniel "vice" Kim, with a 203 average combat score. Now, this statistic isn't some form of death knell or the smoking gun, but when you see that much of a difference, something about that should alert you. He sits at the top of the pack as one of North America's star players. However, there is something that just isn't adding up.

• Read More - The TenZ Carry Threshold By The Numbers

Even when we look at their past performances, at the FaZe Clan Invitation, it's clear that the TenZ show is still alive and kicking. Take for instance Cloud9's 1-2 loss to Immortals at the FaZe Clan Invitational, TenZ leads the pack with an average combat score of 266 across all three maps played. The second-highest performer on his own team was Mitch "mitch" Semago with 184, but not only that, TenZ scored the highest average combat score on the losing team. Now, comparing that kind of differential to other teams like Immortals or Sentinels gives us a better idea of what standard statistic spreads look like.

Let's take the same match, for example, Immortals highest performer when it comes to average combat score was Peter "Asuna" Mazuryk at 250, and the second-highest was Noah "jcStani" Smith who clocked in at 242. Looking at Sentinels first loss to TSM at the FaZe Clan Invitational, their highest performer was Jay "sinatraa" Won at 246, and their second-highest was Hunter "SicK" Mims at 239. With that comparison, that isn't to say there isn't some strange outlier when it comes to teams that are reliant on their star players consistently putting up numbers. Take a team like TSM who need someone like  Matthew "Wardell" Yu or Taylor "drone" Johnson to become the team's spearheads in terms of firepower. The problem with Cloud9 is that they don't have that second person in line that can put up numbers, or rather it isn't clear who that is supposed to be as of yet.

• Read More - Why VALORANT Needs The TSM V Sentinels Rivalry

Now, we can't ignore where the team's resource allocation, however, when we see TenZ take-up the mantle as both a Sniper and as an entry-fragger, it feels like he is the one assisting his team, rather than genuinely being the star player and seeing the bulk of the team's resources. 

This isn't to say that Cloud9 has built a bad team - if anything they should be commended on finding such a talented player, but it seems evident that Cloud9's VALORANT roster has hit a plateau. The worry is that TenZ has the potential to win not only a domestic title, but to place well at future international events as well, and with the performances Cloud9 has shown thus far, it's difficult to see that in their future with the current roster. This all begs the question - does TenZ stay with Cloud9 for the long run if things don't begin to improve? 

Worries aside, who would be a good fit for this team to better allow TenZ to shine or to help me settle into a more defined role?

Imagine a world with a team like TenZ brushing shoulders with someone like Pujan "FNS" Mehta leading the team in-game, while current in-game leader Josh "shinobi" Abastado steps more into a coaching role. Taking the experience FNS brings from countless years of Counter-Strike, and sitting that next to a rising star like TenZ is a frankly terrifying combination--and that's the theme here. Cloud9 and TenZ are so close to finding the right fit, but there is just something missing, a spice that has eluded the team that can bring the whole dish together.

The other option would be to eye some talented free agents like Harrison "psalm" Chang or Zachary "Venerated" Roach. Psalm would be an interesting fit due to his experience in a wide number of different esports. With that in mind, he could bring in some intangibles to assist not only with the in-game leading, lost with having shinobi hypothetically move into a coaching role, but a consistent damage threat that the team woefully needs. A similar sentiment could be echoed with Venerated, who not looked like a bright spot towards the tail end of his time together with 100 Thieves, but someone who is also looking for a new team. 

There is an argument to be made that it is also so early in VALORANT's esports scene that shooting from the hip and not allowing the roster to grow together could hinder longterm success for short term gain - and that is valid. We don't know where the scene is going, and for right now, as long as both Cloud9 and TenZ are happy with both parties performances, things can certainly improve over time. This is easily one of the more creative teams in North America, and their ticket to the top could be as simple as swapping agents or changing a stagnant communication structure. 

Perhaps even signing a coach that can assist the team in formulating a structure to help them. As esports continues to grow globally and across multiple different titles, it's clear that outside forces are much more impactful than simply someone's skills directly translating on the server. An influential leadership figure heading TenZ and Cloud9 could easily be the spark that lights the fuse for this team that sees them rocket into North America's stratosphere. 

One thing is guaranteed throughout all the speculation and theoretical roster movement - Cloud9 has one of the best players and have the potential to become a dominant force in North America. But how do they get there?

Images via Riot Games