World Championship Team Highlight - Cloud 9 HyperX

The name Cloud 9 was an appropriate choice for the newly formed challenger team looking to make it into the LCS. After taking the promotion tournament by storm under the name Quantic Gaming, the euphoric Cloud 9 dominated the North American LCS Summer Split, and qualified for the quarterfinals of the World Championships.

Cloud 9’s performance in the promotion tournament generated what’s now known as the ‘C9 hype train,’ a vehicle that hardly stopped three times during the Summer Split in the form of only three losses. In the first week alone, C9 wasted no time showing they meant business by taking down two veterans in the scene, Team Dignitas and Curse and stopping the other new team Velocity eSports in their tracks. Throughout the rest of the Summer Split, C9 would lose once to Counter Logic Gaming and twice to Team Vulcun.

During the Playoffs at PAX, C9 was the first seed, and therefore set to play against the winner of the first round, being Team Dignitas. Although Team Dignitas set out with an early lead, C9 settled into their favorite comfort picks, and patiently came back to win the first and second games. Up against the crowd favorite veteran TSM, C9 had their work cut out for them.

With a strong showing against CLG and Vulcun, TSM looked poised to give C9 a run for their money, if not take victory from their hands. However Balls and his pick of Rumble had something to say about that. Laying down Equalizer after Equalizer, Balls set the stage for Hai, Sneaky and Meteos to strike and demolish all three games, shutting TSM out 3-0.

Although a rookie LCS team, C9 has proven time and time again that they are the best in North America, but now comes the real test of Worlds. They’ve been known to study and replicate the Korean playstyle, but it’s clear they’re all talented players. Worlds will be their final test to see just how well their strategies work, and if the Summer Split was a true indication of their skill.

The Team

Left: An "Balls" Le - Top Laner - Balls has a devastating Rumble, and has never lost with him since joining the LCS, which is true about his Karthus and Jayce play as well. Preferring AP Bruisers, Balls brings his experience to the Cloud 9 powerhouse that translates to destructively precise Rumble Equalizers and Kennen Slicing Maelstroms.

Back Left: William "Meteos" Hartman - Jungler - Meteos was named MVP of the playoffs at PAX for a reason. He's considered the best jungler in North America, and it'll be interesting to see how his strategies fare against regions with different metas. With the best KDA in North America at 12.7, Meteos is especially skillful on champions like Nasus, Zac and Elise, but isnt afraid to try new champions like Nunu and Evelynn jungle. 

Middle: Hai "Hai" Lam - Mid Laner - Hai has lead Clou 9 as team captain very successfully. Not only does he lead his team to victory nearly every time they hit Summoner's Rift, but his assassin championpicks help him and his team to gain or regain a lead. Champions like Zed, Kennen and Kassadin all accentuate Hai's skill in the game, and allow him to jump into a team and deal horrendous amounts of damage.

Back Right: Daerek "LemonNation" Hart - Support - Feared for his mysterious notebook, LemonNation takes copious notes and timers on Cloud 9's opponents. LemonNation's Zyra has completely shut down opposing botlanes as well as opponents during team fights, winning every match with her. LemonNation is second in Season Total Assists at 312, but his contributions to shotcalling are what make him impactful during games.

Right: Zachary "Sneaky" Scuderi - AD Carry - Sneaky has been playing just as his name suggests. He has been playing consistently well with LemonNation under the radar. It was only towards the end of the season that his Ashe became feared and banned against him, adding another problem for Cloud 9 opponents to ban out. His Ashe Zyra combo with LemonNation has yet to lose since joining the LCS, and the final test will take place here at worlds against foreign teams.