Cloud9 vs Evil Geniuses

Continuing the trend of wholly volatile match-ups and Best of 5s that no one could ever confidently predict, we have C9 vs. EG — a clash of two stacked, albeit still heavily flawed contenders. This series echoes so much of the one preceding it; it is a fight between two equals, two line-ups of immense potential, and some of the very best players that NA has to offer.

It might not be as "important" as Team Liquid vs. 100 Thieves, but whatever it might lack in historical "significance" it more than makes up for in sheer entertainment value. Both C9 and EG are momentum-based teams. They also love to throw caution out the window and just skirmish for as long as they can. They're imbued with absolute confidence which can, at times, turn into a highly exploitable flaw. They'll prepare like there's no tomorrow and then, like clockwork, eschew all heathy logic and reason and just engage and fight and trade blows as if their lives depend on it. That's why we all love them, and that's also a very big reason why they won't be able to crack Top 2 — they're just not layered and cohesive enough, they're not as versatile and capable as TL and 100 Thieves. They're not *that* much worse, but a most vital gap *does* exist.

And, to make things even more complicated, they've both had huge ups and downs, moments of absolute brilliance and long stretches of astounding mediocrity. You never what you're going to get with these two which is also why they're so darn exciting to watch. They're not volatile per se — they're just struggling to maintain a certain level of play because of their lacking synergy and the fact that they're still trying to come up with a team-wide identity. They're going through immense growing pains so fans should definitely be a bit more understanding towards their struggles and many ailments. In other words: if you're sporting a C9/EG jersey there's really no reason to fret: your team(s) *will* challenge for the LCS throne further down the line; that is pretty much guaranteed.

Right now, however, we're in uncharted territory. Terra incognita. Saying which of these two if better than the other feels quite impossible, in no small part because of their staggering inconsistency and ability to overperform — or, conversely, implode — when you least expect it. They're astoundingly talented but their potential is yet to be fully harnessed; they've yet to get on the same page.

They're also mighty capable, but their surges and high points aren't always on display. It all so heavily depends on whom they're up against and whether they have a good enough read on the meta. Sometimes they'll style over their opponents — as was the case last week; other times they'll fumble and fail in a multitude of different ways. The result? We can never be too certain as to what'll happen and who'll come out ahead.

Cloud9 have sort of been "figured out." Their strengths and weaknesses are now more pronounced than ever. Exploiting them, however, is no small feat. Furthermore, Cloud9's lopsided defeat to 100 Thieves is no longer quite as shocking — they succumbed to what can rightfully be considered as the best team in North America. That's... totally fine given their overall inexperience and the fact that they're still gelling as a five-man unit. In fact, that loss seems more and more insignificant as time goes on, and so the fact that they're favored here should really come as no surprise.

Now, are they really better than Evil Geniuses? We don't think so, at least not from a "pound for pound" perspective. They *do*, however, have a clearer identity and playstyle, which could very well end up making a world of difference. If they can find a way to handle Jojopyun and Danny, they *will*, eventually, emerge victorious. The fact that they're 2-0 against EG (in 2022) only further adds credence to that statement.

Fudge has also emerged as a very dangerous and capable carry. He's not as awe-inspiring as some of his more seasoned peers and adversaries, but he can definitely push his team over the finish line. His 25/1/23 KDA in C9's win over GG says it all. His synergy with Blaber also warrants a mention. They're totally in sync and are always on the offensive, looking to make a statement and snowball their way towards victory. They're not perfect, granted, but neither are their upcoming opponents, so it sort of evens itself out.

In any case, there are simply too many intangibles at play here. Cloud9 have thus far been a bit more commanding, but by no means is that enough for anyone to proclaim them as the heavy favorites. In any case, we'll give them our benefit of the doubt and hope for the best — that, frankly, is all we can do at this point in time.