LCS 2021: Why Fans Should Be Excited for Cloud9
By Josh Tyler
Let’s look at why Cloud9 fans should be excited for the coming LCS season.
Cloud9 started their 2020 season by showcasing the most dominant domestic run of any team in LCS history. Their eventual Summer Split collapse remains one of the most disheartening, enraging, and/or shocking occurrences in the history of the league.
The talent remains with this C9 roster and arguably has grown from last year with their blockbuster offseason addition. But will the spectre of last year linger over Cloud9 in 2021?
Last Year
17-1 in the Spring Split, 13-5 in the Summer Split
Cloud9’s Spring Split record was shocking. And as the split went along, the shocking part of it became not the wins, but the fact that they ever lost. This team was eons above the other LCS teams, brute-forcing their way to the Spring Split title and only losing two games total (regular season and playoffs) along the way.
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In the Summer Split, cracks began to show in that unbeatable facade. C9 dropped off a bit, but still finished the regular split in second place. Most fans assumed they were still a shoo-in to win the title.
Instead, Cloud9 dropped out of the playoffs in an unbelievable fashion. They lost their opening-round series 3-1 to FlyQuest, then managed to take down Evil Geniuses 3-0. But in the next round of the loser’s bracket, they fell to rival TSM, 3-1, ending a season without a spot at Worlds.
The Offseason
After an end to a season like that, it’s understandable that Cloud9 decided to make major shakeups to the roster and coaching staff. They kept around their bot lane and jungler, with Spring MVP Robert “Blaber” Huang, Jesper “Zven” Svenningsen, and Philippe “Vulcan” Laflamme all returning.
In the top lane, they said goodbye to Licorice and called up promising top lane prospect Ibrahim “Fudge” Allami from their Academy team. For the mid lane, they made perhaps the biggest free-agent signing ever by acquiring Luka “Perkz” Perković from the LEC’s G2 Esports.
The Coach
Taking over for long-time head coach Reapered, Kim “Reignover” Yeu-jin has been promoted from their Academy ranks to take over. Since joining C9 Academy as a coach in 2020, his team has finished first in the regular season and won both split titles.
Players to Be Excited About
I’m interested to see what the young Fudge can prove, because he is one of the more promising Academy prospects we have this year. But, in truth, the player we’re all excited to see is Perkz.
For the last two years, Perkz has been a part of one of the most consistent dynasties in the West ever. Part of that meant having to sacrifice his preferred position to former teammate Caps. Now that he has moved on, I’m so excited to see what he can do against NA competition.
Next. Why Fans Should Be Excited About TSM. dark
Season Prediction
Cloud9 has all the talent and all the existing synergy. Even beyond the three guys who played together last year, they have played with Fudge as a part of their organization’s Academy roster. Also, Perkz and Zven both played together on G2 years ago, so that synergy exists as well. This team should be finishing top-two, minimum. Missing Worlds again would be unacceptable.