Sentinels may have already tasted the chaos of Kickoff against 100 Thieves, but
Yassin "Reduxx" Aboulalazm is not a rookie who panics. After a match that came down to details and an unhappy ending that left a bitter taste, the prodigy took the mic with cold lucidity: pressure, mid-rounds, confidence, and that feeling that the team sometimes plays
“not to lose” rather than to win.
In this exchange, he candidly reflects on his first weeks in Tier 1, the reality of the
Sentinels spotlight, and what needs to change quickly so that 2026 finally looks like the version they promise.
The first map was really close, and the second one, you were able to come back but lost in overtime. What was the team missing today for those wins, to win the map and take the win for you?
Yassin "Reduxx" Aboulalazm: "Definitely, when the pressure is on, we need to get better at handling that pressure and playing more confidently. Right now, we're crumbling a little bit in the mid rounds when we just have to trust ourselves, trust our instincts, and play to win. Right now, I feel like we're playing to not lose, and we need to do better when the pressure is on.
You were presented as one of the most highly anticipated rookies. Did you feel that pressure, or are you able to play freely despite it?
Reduxx: There will always be pressure. I mean, maybe some people will say that I have more pressure because of Sentinels and the Prodigy aspect of things. But I mean, after the FURIA game, I kind of got my nerves out the way. Against Evil Geniuses, I was feeling very confident. Today, as well, I was feeling confident. The first map was slow for me. I don't really think it was a confidence thing for me. I think we just needed overall to play better and together, and then I feel like I would have been a little bit more activated.
After the first lot, people were very harsh, and after the EG win, they shared a lot of love. How do you personally deal with that?
Reduxx: A friend of mine told me something really important. He said that the only opinions that matter are in-house and family, so taking that advice, that's all I listen to, although I do appreciate the love from the fans a lot.
What do you think you've done the best since joining Sentinel, with those matches as you played before?
Reduxx: I'm able to bring kind of a hybrid. I can give energy when we need energy, and then when everyone is hype, I can chill down and just play my game, focus on it. I'm always focused on playing my game, but sometimes, we need energy, and I'm there to give it for sure. I bring my firepower, meaning, as sometimes, meaning, looking at the stats, I guess it is a little inconsistent for me, but I'm sure I'll iron things out. And when we, when we as a team iron things out, I think we'll be playing very well.
On the flip side, if you're being honest, what do you want to fix as quickly as possible in, like the next maybe scrims or matches for you personally?
Reduxx: It's a little less for me as an individual and overall just a team thing. We just gotta play confident, we have to play to win, we have to play as if we know that we're gonna win this game, and we're lacking in that for sure. We definitely have so much more to show right now, we're not showing it, and we have to wake up for sure.
Reduxx and johnqt during the match against 100T. Credit: Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games
Just before the season starts, Mohamed Amine "johnqt" Ouaridat said us that he sees you a bit like his little brother and that you bond especially since you share roots, bringing you closer. What has he brought you since you joined this team?
Reduxx: I like johnqt a lot; he's a really cool guy. The fact that me and him are both Moroccan also helps in that a little bit. I kind of see him as a big brother. Definitely doesn't baby me, but he's definitely there for me when I need him. I appreciate him a lot, and he's also insane. He's flying now.
How did the adaptation to tier 1 go for you, and what surprised you the most when you're playing your first matches here?
Reduxx: The thing that surprised me the most is the change in atmosphere from tier 2. Tier 2, you're kind of sitting in your room practicing for 6 to 8 hours a day, and then when you end, it's nighttime. The stage is awesome. Even the howling abyss is nice for sure. The land ping as well is very nice. It's very fun. And just overall, just the whole atmosphere and environment is just one of a kind, and I'm very grateful to be here.
Braco "Kyu" Hrustemovic said us that moving up with you made it easier for him to integrate the tier one. How on your side? How did it go?
Reduxx: Moving up with Kyu is definitely easier than playing with a random teammate. I know Kyu, how he calls, what he likes to do. I know him as a person, and we already bring chemistry together, playing on Sentinels together, so that definitely helps a bit for sure.
What do you think about the triple elimination bracket. And with so many teams fighting for only three spots, who do you see qualifying for Santiago?
Reduxx: For the bracket, but overall, it does seem a little less forgiving, even though it's a triple elimination. I do think the triple elimination is a little less forgiving. And for the three teams, I have faith in my team to wake up. So one of those spots will be ours. Yeah, NRG is looking nice, and then between MIBR and G2, it’s up in the air.
For you, what's the goal for this split, individually and as a team, and what would make it a successful season?
Reduxx: Right now, we're focused on playing better during matches. We definitely struggle a little bit; it's a new team, and we have young people. Would be successful in qualifying for Santiago for sure. And then that would be success for kickoff. But then, after that, the definition of success changes because now we want to win Santiago. But right now, the first step is make it to the lower final. Right now, that's our goal. That's what we're focused on. And we have one more chance. So we'll have to make it count."
