Cloud9 has its work cut out for it if it is going to return to the Quarterfinals at Worlds. Last year, Cloud9 turned heads by coming in second place in a group that included SK Telecom T1, Taiwanese champions Flash Wolves, and Chinese heavyweights IMay. They may have been swept by Samsung Galaxy in the Quarterfinals, but they were the one North American team that made it out of the Group Stage and did the region proud.
The gods of chance did not smile on Cloud9 this time around either. Although Cloud9 looked like the best team that made it out of the Play-In Stage, going unchallenged in its group before sweeping Lyon Gaming, they were placed in the hardest group.
They may be favored against ahq, but Cloud9 will be heavy underdogs to both SK Telecom T1 and Edward Gaming in Group A. However, this team is battle tested and has surprised before.
Opening Betting Odds to Win 2017 League of Legends World Championship
Cloud9 +6000
Top Lane
To no one’s surprise, Cloud9 will bring two top laners to Worlds. Ray and Impact have split the role all year long depending on what Cloud9 is looking for in a specific game.
Impact is the nominal starter and was the choice for all seven games of the Play-In Stage for Cloud9. The team doesn’t ask much of him in lane, wanting him to mostly just hold his own in lane. He totaled just 14 kills in the team’s seven games with Cho’Gath being his champion of choice.
Ray is perfect as a substitute in that he knows his role with the team. He describes himself as a sword compared to Impact, who he dubs as a shield. Cloud9 uses Ray when they need a spark or when they want to go with a playmaker who can carry in the top lane. He is equal parts highlight reel and blooper, so you don’t know what you will get in any given day, but he can be a difference maker.
Jungle
Last year, Meteos was the jungler that Cloud9 brought to Worlds. He performed decently, but the team decided in the offseason that Contractz was ready to be brought up from their challenger team and Meteos left for Phoenix1.
That move has paid off in spades. Contractz was named Rookie of the Split earlier this year and was great in the Play-In Stage. He posted a 9.6 KDA and was constantly helping Cloud9 get ahead early on its opponents. Contractz will have to take his game to another level if this team is to move on though.
Mid Lane
Say what you want about his antics, but there’s no questioning Jensen’s skill. Prior to joining Cloud9 in 2015, he was banned from competitive play because he was considered too toxic, but he has been great since toning it down.
This last split was perhaps his most impressive one yet. Jensen led North America in kills by a wide margin and was the catalyst for a lot of Cloud9’s success. He sometimes tries to do too much or gets too greedy in search of a kill, but you have to take the good with the bad with him. Jensen is the key to Cloud9’s success and its hopes at Worlds rest primarily on his shoulders. In a group like this, he will be tested in every game.
AD Carry
Aside from Jensen, Sneaky is the most important person on Cloud9’s roster. He has the most seasoning as this is his fifth time at Worlds and he is looking to once again prove himself on the international stage.
Sneaky has performed very well in the new meta and is looking great so far at Worlds after he had a lackluster performance at this stage in 2016. His continued dominance despite being color blind makes his success even more incredible.
Support
Smoothie has been great this season, but his counterparts in this position in this group are legendary. Wolf is considered by many to be considered the best support ever and Meiko is widely considered the best support in China.
He has done well as a support who initiates and played nothing but initiate champions in the Play-In Stage. He put up a combined 18.5 KDA on Rakan, Janna, and Thresh and will likely use those champions throughout the Group Stage.
Prediction
It’s going to be hard for Cloud9 to get out of this group. They stand little chance against SKT and must best Edward Gaming at least once if they want to make it to Quarterfinals. A third place finish in the group seems very likely this year.
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