Cloud9 vs CLG

Cloud9 taking on Counter Logic Gaming is only marginally more alluring than the Best of 3 preceding it. It, too, is a clash between one of the best teams in North America and a bottom-tier dweller that, admittedly, *has* performed ever so slightly better than expected. Be that as it may, the gap between them simply cannot be narrowed or overcome at this point in time, and the end result should reflect that as well.

Still, if there's one thing that Dignitas and GGS have made clear, it is the fact that North American gatekeepers have no intention of going down without a fight. They might not be equipped to tackle the LCS pantheon, but they'll nonetheless try, and you have to give them credit for it. How big of a fight they'll put up still remains to be seen, but they should, by all means, make this a bit more competitive (and, by proxy, entertaining) than the odds would imply.

Cloud9 are by no means infallible. They, too, have been making mistakes at the most random of moments, and Fudge -- talented though he is -- has by no means blown us away with his mid lane performances. He's been serviceable (if a bit underwhelming), but could definitely become a weak link for Cloud9 should CLG exert enough pressure. Contractz, a C9 alumnus himself, definitely knows his way around the Rift and is expected to be the one leading the charge against his former team.

If things pan out as expected, Cloud9 will have no issue in taking down CLG's young (but feisty) line-up. They have nothing special to offer nor any kind of "secret weapon" or superstar player that could take Cloud9 by surprise and yield any sort of competitive advantage. They're worse across the board but will nonetheless put up a fight, and that's more than enough given what everyone expected of them coming into the tournament.

All in all, it'll be a fun, skirmish-heavy affair with a lot of action! Cloud9 know they're the heavy favorites in this one and will probably look to do a bit of "limit testing." So, all things considered, don't expect a flawless showing, even though they have all the right tools to blow CLG out of the water.