Team SoloMid vs Cloud9

Next up, we have the most anticipated match of the day: the clash of perennial North American titans — Cloud9 and Team SoloMid! This, in short, is always a must-watch, regardless of your allegiance. It’s the one match-up that always delivers, regardless of who’s playing or what the meta’s like. We’ve been watching these two giants clash for years and it still hasn’t gotten any less entertaining than it was back in 2014.

And, if their recent play is any indication, we should be in for one heck of a ride!

There’s a lot on the line, too. Well, both teams have already locked in their playoff spots, so their final ranking is now what matters most. If things pan out as expected, Cloud9 will finish the split in first place. That’s not necessarily because they’re the absolute best team in the region (that’s up for debate), but rather because they have too good of a record at this point in time. Eleven wins and just three losses (two of which came at the hands of Team Liquid) is a pretty darn impressive record. They’re playing some exceptional League of Legends and, frankly, they’re not even close to their skill ceiling. If they’re *this* good this early on, then we can’t wait to see them in a couple of months’ time. The sky’s the limit for the boys in white and blue, and if they continue growing and developing in such a positive direction, then who knows how high they’ll eventually be able to soar. They have all the right tools to win the LCS, and if they find a way to solve the “TL puzzle” they’ll surely take over the throne too.

Team SoloMid, on the other hand, are a hard bunch to read. Are they good? Absolutely, but that mostly fluctuates dependings on the day. There’s very little rhyme or reason behind their surges and detours, but at least they’re keeping it entertaining. One day they’ll look like a bona fide challenger before imploding mere hours later. And it matters very little as to whom they’re playing against, as they tend to fumble and fail on their own — no one’s pushing them to make these egregious mistakes. That, of course, is relatively easy to fix. It takes time but it’s not any unsolvable innate weakness that’ll come back to bite them further down the line. The most important thing is that they’ve shown us their potential, and that they did — and then some. The only problem is that their highs aren’t all that frequent, and they seemingly happen at random. Whether they’ll get a hold of their volatility still remains to be seen, but there’s a reason for optimism. When they double down on their strengths and draft to the best of their ability, they’re definitely a force to be reckoned with.

Right now, however, they need to huddle up and focus on what works best for them — there’s no more room for error, and finishing strong should be at the very top of their list of priorities.

Unfortunately, they’ll face a team that can punish in a blink of an eye. And Team SoloMid, if they haven’t magically shored up their weaknesses over night, give far too many openings. You give C9 an inch and they’ll take a mile. Or, at the very least, that’s what Blaber will do. When this incredibly talented native jungler decides it’s time to hard-carry, there’s but a few individuals over in North America who can go toe-to-toe. He’s truly a jungling behemoth and, by the looks of it, he doesn’t intend to slow down any time soon. He’s the main driving force behind Cloud9’s immense success and he’s still a fairly young player — there’s ample room for him to grow and develop. Imagine that: an even better and more impactful Blaber. Scary stuff, at least if you’re scheduled to face against him.

The fact that Cloud9 lost twice to Team Liquid in no way diminishes their talent or long-term potential. After all, it’s all a matter of styles and match-ups, and Cloud9, by the looks of it, have yet to find a way to beat TL in a Best of 1. Still, that can easily change in a couple of week’s time. Right now, however, they’re scheduled to clash with Team SoloMid, and they’re heavily favored for a reason. TSM are far from a pushover, but they’re severely flawed as a five-man unit, and their second loss to Dignitas attests to the fact as well. They’re a capable bunch, that’s for sure, but they still pale in comparison to Cloud9.

So, in the end, we’ll side with the number one team on this one. It’s the only logical choice, although TSM will surely make things far more competitive than most people realize.