2023 LCS Summer Split Preview: Cloud9

Can Cloud9 get the threepeat they missed back in 2014?

Only two teams in the LCS history won three back-to-back-to-back titles, TSM in 2016-17 and Team Liquid in 2018-19. But it was the original Cloud9 who almost managed to do it first when the original squad with Zachary “Sneaky” Scuderi and William “Meteos” Hartman won the two splits the org ever played in the NA LCS. They eventually fell against TSM in their third split, missing their chance.

Those two trophies back in 2013-14 were also the only ones in Cloud9’s cabinet, that is until the new era with the new face of the franchise started, Robert “Blaber” Huang. In the Blaber era, Cloud9 won four more LCS titles. Two of these titles came in the last two splits, which means C9 now has another shot at a threepeat and establishing themselves as the new dynasty in North America.

Cloud9 LCS Roster for the 2023 Summer

Top lane: Ibrahim “Fudge” Allami
Jungle: Robert “Blaber” Huang
Mid lane: Jang “EMENES” Min-soo
AD Carry: Kim “Berserker” Min-cheol
Support: Jesper “Zven” Svenningsen

cloud9 msi 1 — LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 17: Cloud9 takes a final bow onstage after elimination by Gen.G Esports at the League of Legends – Mid-Season Invitational Bracket Stage on May 17 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games)

Cloud9 wasn’t the definitive title favorites in the last two splits, and they still managed to achieve the victory in dominant playoff runs. It is a bit different for the 2023 LCS Summer Split, as most fans now predict them to win again, especially since all Cloud9 players are big believers in trash talk and it’s expected for them to back it up.

Unfortunately, the team is just returning from a demoralizing showing at the 2023 Mid-Season Invitational in London. In three best-of-fives Cloud9 played at MSI, they only won one series which was against the other LCS team, Golden Guardians. They lost their other series against Gen.G and BLG (both 0-3), and the performances weren’t awe-inspiring. The only added pressure isn’t to recover from the games at MSI either, they also need to play their first LCS game with under two weeks' break, and on a massive patch like 13.10.

Still, they have a lot going for them. The weaknesses Cloud9 showed internationally won’t trouble them much in LCS. The solo lanes not being able to match their opponents, shaky mid game calls and the uncoordinated play are not something this C9 team had in NA. Plus, even with a massive patch change, the meta favors Cloud9 playstyle a lot.

Bot lane focused meta with a lot of enchanters is what C9 excelled with Berserker proving himself not only one of the best ADCs in the league but one of the best players. Despite their struggles against LPL/LCK laners, EMENES and Fudge are still some of the best solo laners in the region. And Blaber is still probably the best jungler in the league. Cloud9 have everything they need to win another title this Summer, and hopefully redeem themselves with a much better performance at Worlds 2023.