Cloud9 Surprises at IEM Oakland: Advances to Semifinals
The highly successful run of Cloud9 at IEM Oakland has left many amazed. The team has managed to upset some of the world’s best teams in the $300,000 event.
Having already caused some major upsets by defeating Astralis and SK in the group stage, Cloud9 moved on to face Gambit Esports in the quarterfinals. The series turned out to be a nail-biter, with three closely contested maps – Overpass, Cobblestone, and Mirage.
Cloud9 kicked off the first map, Overpass, on a strong note with a 9-6 score in their favor at halftime. However, Gambit made a defensive comeback, repeatedly breaking Cloud9’s economy and taking them into overtime. In the end, Gambit won, sweeping the North American team with a 19-16 score.
The second map, Cobblestone, remained closely contested until the second half when Cloud9’s defense came alive. A clutch play by Tarik Celik prevented Gambit from gaining momentum, and Cloud9 secured a 16-11 victory on Cobblestone.
The final and most intense map of the series was Mirage, where both teams fought for survival. It was a back-and-forth battle, with successful executes from both sides. In the end, Cloud9 emerged victorious with a 16-11 score, overwhelming Gambit with their fast and explosive site takes. Tarik and Tyler “skadoodle” Latham were the top performers for Cloud9 throughout the match, each securing 24 kills per map.
Cloud9’s impressive 2-1 series win over Gambit has propelled them into the semifinals of IEM Oakland. They will now have the advantage of playing at home as they go up against FaZe Clan. The semifinal match is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 18 at 7:50pm ET.
Cloud9, IEM Oakland, esports, upset, quarterfinals, Gambit Esports, Overpass, Cobblestone, Mirage, Tarik Celik, Tyler “skadoodle” Latham, semifinals, FaZe Clan