For the primary time within the 2023 LCS Spring Playoffs, Cloud9 have been severely pushed towards Golden Guardians in in the present day’s grand closing. After skating by means of the playoffs so far, successful six of their first seven particular person video games, C9 have been compelled to play a a lot nearer collection than anticipated towards the LCS’ sixth seed, however nonetheless managed to safe the league’s title—the second in as many splits for the franchise.
With this win, C9 turns into the primary LCS staff since 2019 Group Liquid to win two consecutive LCS titles. It’s the group’s sixth total LCS trophy.
Past one other home championship, C9 have set themselves up for worldwide success with in the present day’s win, as they secured the primary seed out of North America at this yr’s Mid-Season Invitational. MSI will start on Could 2, however C9 may have a delayed begin, as they’ve been seeded straight into the bracket stage of the occasion as a result of in the present day’s victory.
In video games one and two of the collection, Golden Guardians amassed spectacular early recreation leads, forcing C9 to play on the again foot in hopes of a comeback. Golden Guardians had back-to-back leads of 5,800 gold at quarter-hour in each video games one and two. Whereas C9 solely accomplished the comeback in a type of video games (recreation one), their dominance in video games three and 4 was sufficient to clinch the collection by a rating of 3-1.
In these back-end video games, it was the Spring Split MVP, Berserker, who served because the difference-maker for C9. He posted a mixed scoreline of 13/0/6 throughout video games three and 4.
What in the present day’s consequence means for NA at MSI 2023
This yr, the Mid-Season Invitational will welcome the highest two groups from every of the professional scene’s 4 main areas (North America, China, Korea, and EMEA), so though Golden Guardians and C9 have been already locked into the event coming into the day, seeding on the occasion was on the road. A brand new format change to MSI splits the event into two phases: the play-in stage and the bracket stage. Within the case of main areas (apart from the LEC), the champion is seeded straight into the MSI bracket stage, whereas the runner-up must compete within the play-ins.
Associated: All League of Legends teams qualified for MSI 2023
Golden Guardians would be the first NA staff to make a world look this season, as they’ll be ushered into the MSI play-in stage alongside different main area second seeds (together with Korea’s T1), and the scene’s crop of minor area champions (like PSG Talon of the PCS).
The MSI play-in stage will start in London, United Kingdom on Could 2, whereas the LCS will return to its home schedule two months from now when the Summer season Cut up begins on June 1.
