This is Cloud9’s Chance to Shine at Worlds
This year’s Worlds has been full of surprises as top teams like Immortals and TSM failed to advance past the group stage. Now, the hopes of North America rest on the shoulders of Cloud9.
The Tough Road Ahead
Cloud9 faced a tough challenge in their group, going up against three-time world champions SK Telecom T1, the LPL’s No. 1 seed EDward Gaming, and ahq e-Sports. But with TSM and Immortals out of the picture, Cloud9 now has a clear path ahead.
Both TSM and Immortals struggled due to their inability to adapt their team compositions. TSM, in particular, relied heavily on late game mechanical teamfights, neglecting to address their weak early game. This was exploited by teams like Team WE, Misfits, and the Flash Wolves.
Adaptation is Key
Cloud9 must learn from the mistakes of TSM and Immortals and be willing to adapt their strategy. SKT, EDG, and ahq will surely exploit any weaknesses they find. Being proactive in the early game and making necessary adjustments to their team composition will be crucial for Cloud9’s success.
The Importance of Macro Play
Unlike TSM and Immortals, Cloud9 is known for their strong macro play. They excel in rotations, tower dives, and overall map movement. While their mechanical skills may not be on par with their competitors, their macro abilities could be their saving grace.
A Chance for Legacy
If Cloud9 can make it to the quarterfinals, it will solidify their legacy as the most successful NA team on the international stage. However, if they fail to advance, it will mark the second time in three Worlds tournaments that no NA team made it out of groups.
Their first game is tonight at 1am ET/1pm CST against EDG.
2017 Worlds, Cloud9, TSM, Immortals, NA team, group stage, team composition, macro play, quarterfinals