Cloud9 Upsets Immortals in Semifinals with 3-2 Series Win
Cloud9, the third-seeded team, caused an upset by defeating the second-seeded Immortals in a 3-2 series win in the semifinals today. This victory was unexpected as Immortals had an impressive 6-1 record against Cloud9 in their regular season meetings.
C9’s strategy in the series was to target Immortals’ top laner, Heo “Huni” Seong-hoon, who is considered the best top laner in North America. Cloud9 identified weaknesses in Huni’s play and successfully exploited them.
In a pre-match interview, C9 AD Carry Zachary “Sneaky” Scuderi mentioned that Huni sometimes picks unusual champions that can be taken advantage of. And that’s exactly what Cloud9 did, winning games where Huni played champions like Riven, Kennen, and Lissandra, which are not considered top-tier picks.
One of the key moments in the series was in game two when Cloud9 managed to come back from a 4.5k gold deficit at 31 minutes and equalize the series. This game was filled with objective trading and constant team fighting, making it one of the most chaotic and entertaining games of the season.
Cloud9’s top laner, Jeong “Impact” Eon-young, played an instrumental role in the series. He absorbed a significant amount of pressure from Immortals’ jungler, Kim “Reignover” Yeu-jin, allowing the rest of C9 to gain advantages elsewhere on the map. Impact also had a crucial one-vs-one skirmish against Pobelter’s LeBlanc, saving an inhibitor and turning the game in C9’s favor.
The momentum carried over into game three, where Cloud9 built a substantial 10.7k gold lead at 33 minutes. Despite Immortals’ efforts to turn the tide in game four, Cloud9 was able to absorb the pressure and secure the victory.
Game five saw Cloud9 adopting Immortals’ strategy from previous games. They mitigated the early kill pressure from Immortals by focusing on objectives elsewhere. A decisive team fight before the 24-minute mark allowed Cloud9 to secure a significant lead and subsequently take control of the game.
In the end, Cloud9 clinched the series at 47 minutes, taking a third Baron and securing a spot in the finals. They will face the winner of the series between Counter Logic Gaming and Team SoloMid. A victory in the finals will guarantee Cloud9 a spot in Worlds without having to go through the regional qualifier.
Immortals still have a chance to qualify for Worlds by winning the championship if Counter Logic Gaming emerges as the winner and if they defeat Team SoloMid in the third place game.
Pivotal Moments of the Series
Game One
In a team fight, Immortals managed to pick up three kills without losing any and quickly secured Baron before Cloud9 could regroup.
Game Two
Game two was characterized by constant trading of objectives and skirmishes. Pobelter’s LeBlanc jukes showcased the chaotic nature of the game.
Game Three
Impact’s solo kill on Huni in the top lane set the tone for game three. It allowed Cloud9 to build a substantial lead and secure a hard-earned victory.
Game Four
Game four was evenly matched with back-and-forth skirmishes. A team fight won by Immortals allowed them to secure the victory in this game.
Game Five
Cloud9 had the gold lead despite being behind in kills. A team fight initiated by Immortals at 29:30 scattered Cloud9, but they regrouped to secure kills and objectives, giving them a significant advantage.
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