Steven R. February 20, 2019
Cloud9 are off to a hot start in the Legends Stage at the Katowice Major.
Following a shaky but ultimately successful showing in the Challengers Stage, Cloud9 started its run in the next round by thrashing MiBR, cruising to an easy 16-3 win.
From the start of the match on Inferno, MiBR was raising eyebrows with the team’s passive play on the T side. Some of this passivity can be credited to strong defensive performances by Jordan "Zellsis" Montemurro and Robin "flusha" Rönnquist. Much of it can also be chalked up to MiBR repeatedly battling the clock by waiting to push sites until the final 20 seconds of a given round.
This combination made for a lopsided 12-3 score at halftime, but MiBR did not fare any better on the defending side. Cloud9 had little trouble winning duels, taking sites, and getting the bomb down. MiBR’s Gabriel "FalleN" Toledo and João "felps" Vasconcellos struggled to find any kind of success. In short order, Cloud9 had locked down the win and MiBR was left to wonder how things went so poorly.
Despite the loss, MiBR still has the opportunity to get back on track. Now 0-1 in the Legends Stage, it is set to face a shaky CompLexity Gaming in round two. The Brazilians will enter that matchup as sizable favorites regardless of their poor showing versus Cloud9.
Meanwhile, this was a key win for the North American side.
In addition to nudging the team towards a berth in the Champions Stage, the victory guarantees Cloud9 a spot in the Berlin Major later this year. It’s a significant accomplishment for a roster that is still just a few weeks old.
Cloud9 is still facing an uphill battle in the Katowice Major. The team will face top-ranked Astralis in the next round of the Legends Stage.