Cloud 9: A Team Worth Supporting
Everyone has a favorite esports team. Whether it’s because of a favorite player or simply a personal preference, supporting a team becomes a passionate affair. For me, that team is Cloud 9.
I’m relatively new to the League of Legends scene, only starting to watch after the Season 3 Worlds. Coming from the Call of Duty scene, the idea of a league system where teams compete every week fascinated me. After re-watching the 2013 summer split, I decided to support Cloud 9 because they were dominating the scene. Fast forward to spring 2015, and I’m still loyal to the team. The captain, Hai, stepping down and the lineup changing made me reflect on why I love this team. It’s the players. Over two years, I’ve seen them evolve both in gameplay and as individuals.
The Evolution of Meteos
Will “Meteos” Hartman burst onto the LCS scene as part of Cloud 9. He quickly established himself as one of the best NA junglers, alongside Xmithie. What set him apart was his efficient playstyle. With farm-heavy champions like Zac and Nocturne, Meteos struck the perfect balance between farming and putting pressure on the map. He consistently out-farmed his opponents and delivered ganks with great synergy with Balls. However, in season 4, when the meta shifted to early pressure ganking, Meteos adapted by changing his playstyle. He picked up champions like Elise and Lee Sin, and even though he wasn’t mechanically the best on Lee Sin, he found success by constantly applying pressure across all lanes. Meteos showcased his skills on Elise during the All-Stars 2014, achieving a momentous victory for a Western team against the Eastern team, OMG. Now in season 5, the meta has come full circle, and tank junglers like Gragas and Sejuani are back in favor. Meteos delivered a stunning performance with a 5-man ultimate against Team SoloMid in the 2015 spring finals.
The Rise of Sneaky
Zachary “Sneaky” Scuderi joined Cloud 9 as the team’s ADC after WildTurtle left for TSM. Sneaky played a utility-based ADC, often pairing up with LemonNation to bring innovative bot lane combinations like Ashe and Zyra. When Ashe was banned, he would default to champions like Varus. While Sneaky didn’t always steal the spotlight like Balls or Meteos, he consistently dealt damage or applied crowd control with his ultimates. In 2014, when the tank meta prevented Balls from carrying and early pressure junglers fell off in the late game, Sneaky stepped up as the team’s primary carry. From Lucian to Twitch to Kog’Maw, he showcased his versatility and skill. His impressive performance on Corki against the Korean powerhouse Samsung Blue in Worlds 2014 solidified his position as one of the best ADCs in North America. Sneaky continues to improve and consistently delivers exceptional numbers, even in defeat. It seems like he still has a lot more to offer.
Hai’s Legacy
Hai “Hai” Du Lam is a true veteran of the game. His journey started in 2012 with Orbit, but it wasn’t until he joined Quantic and renamed the team Cloud 9 that his dream of being a pro-player and creating a brand came true. Hai’s intelligence shines both inside and outside the game. He revolutionized the NA scene with his strategic shotcalling and macro-play, making Cloud 9 the best team in terms of strategy. While he may not have been as mechanically gifted as players like Bjergsen, he made up for it with his smart strategies on the fly. Hai’s splitpush and assassination tactics forced some of the best teams to run around the map, giving Cloud 9 the upper hand. He not only elevated the team but also helped grow the esports industry as a whole. Cloud 9 expanded into other games like CS:GO, Dota 2, and even Super Smash Bros, breeding talent and allowing players to make a name for themselves. Hai’s contributions to the scene are truly remarkable, and we can only hope that he continues to play a role in its growth even after stepping down.
Cloud 9 will always be remembered as the team that revolutionized NA esports and put them back in the race for international tournaments. As a fan, I want to express my gratitude for being my passion for the past two years, and I know that many others will continue to support the team even without Hai.
Here are some of my favorite Cloud 9 games for you to check out:
– Cloud 9 vs Samsung Blue Worlds Quarterfinals 2014 game 1
– NaJin White-Shield vs Cloud9 Group D tie-breaker Worlds 2014
– Curse vs Cloud 9 week 9 summer 2014 regular season
Thank you for reading! If you have any feedback or want to connect, you can follow me on Twitter: @Imp_Wannabe.