Cloud9 Academy Dominates Clutch Gaming in LCS
Cloud9 subbed in their full Academy roster for the final game of the 2019 LCS Spring Split regular season, and the results were impressive. They completely dominated Clutch Gaming, raising questions about their ability to defeat other LCS teams.
Clutch Gaming had the chance to end their season on a high note, but they were up against Cloud9 Academy—a team led by Greyson “Goldenglue” Gilmer and a group of unknown rookies. It seemed unlikely that C9 Academy could compete against seasoned veterans like Chae “Piglet” Gwang-jin and Heo “Huni” Seung-hoon, but they proved everyone wrong.
C9 Academy crushed Clutch Gaming, with AD carry Yuri “Keith” Jew securing four kills in just eight minutes. The bot lane of Cody Sun and Philippe “Vulcan” Laflamme couldn’t handle the pressure and were swiftly defeated.
It wasn’t just the bot lane that outperformed—C9 Academy dominated in the mid lane and jungle as well. Clutch Gaming looked lost and out of sync, unable to keep up with C9 Academy’s gameplay. The match ended in just 30 minutes, with C9 Academy emerging as the victors.
Despite not being the strongest team in the league, Clutch Gaming’s defeat highlighted the cohesion and skill of C9 Academy. Many rookie teams struggle to perform in their first professional game on the LCS stage, but C9 Academy seemed ready and confident.
The individual performances of top laner Ziqing “Kumo” Zhao and support David “Diamond” Bérubé were noteworthy. Huni failed to exploit Kumo’s weaknesses, and Diamond played exceptionally well on Braum.
C9 Academy consists of more than just rookies. Players like Robert “Blaber” Huang and Goldenglue are consistent and have proved themselves in previous seasons. They may not be the best mid-jungle duo in the league, but they are competent and can compete within the LCS.
Considering their dominant performance against Clutch Gaming, it’s not far-fetched to imagine C9 Academy defeating teams like CLG, OpTic, or 100 Thieves. These teams have had mediocre seasons and have struggled to maintain consistency.
While there may have been a few outliers, it’s clear that the top six teams in the league outperformed CLG and OpTic. C9 Academy’s victory over Clutch Gaming showcased their understanding of the game and their ability to execute strategies effectively.
If they can convincingly defeat the ninth-best team in the league, it’s reasonable to question the legitimacy of the eighth, seventh, and sixth-place teams. C9 Academy’s success against Clutch Gaming has put things into perspective.