Cloud9 beats TSM, faces 100 Thieves in LCS Lock In semifinals
Cloud9 has secured a place in the semifinals of the 2021 LCS Lock In tournament by taking down Team SoloMid.
Cloud9 and TSM met in the first round of the knockout stage, for one of the most anticipated possible matches of the event. Despite the hype around this series, it didn’t go exactly as the audience expected. C9 and TSM, who were expected to dominate the LCS this year, had an average, borderline mediocre performance.
The teams had multiple things in common including bad drafts, poor performances, and questionable execution. All three games in the series followed a similar pattern with one team getting an advantage that would be ruined by an inability to convert that edge into objectives. The victories in each game didn’t come because one team was vastly superior to the other. Both squads made critical mistakes, failed to play according to their win conditions, and overall looked messy on the map. Neither had a clear plan and it looked like both teams were just winging it.
C9 and TSM were supposed to be the top contenders in the LCS. In reality, it feels like one of these teams might miss playoffs come the end of the spring split. It’s a worrying look for both teams, especially when compared with Evil Geniuses, 100 Thieves, Team Liquid, and even FlyQuest.
C9 advanced to the semifinals, but chances are it won’t make it further in the competition. The next opponent is 100 Thieves, the team that is looking like the favorite to take it all. Earlier in the day, 100 Thieves completely slaughtered Immortals with an outstanding performance by top laner Kim “Ssumday” Chan-ho.
Going role for role, it doesn’t feel like Cloud9 has what it takes to defeat the improved, empowered version 100 Thieves.
Cloud9 and 100 Thieves play on January 29 at 5 PM, CST.
Who is playing on Cloud9?
The five players on Cloud9 are:
- Ibrahim “Fudge” Allami
- Robert “Blaber” Huang
- Luka “Perkz” Perković
- Jesper “Zven” Svenningsen
- Philippe “Vulcan” Laflamme
Who is competing in the LCS?
There are 10 professional teams currently competing in the LCS. Each team owns a franchise slot, partnering directly with League of Legends developer Riot Games. These franchise slots are permanent, so participating teams can never be demoted from the league. The 10 teams are as follows:
- 100 Thieves
- Cloud9
- Counter Logic Gaming
- Dignitas
- Evil Geniuses
- FlyQuest
- Golden Guardians
- Immortals
- Team SoloMid
- Team Liquid
When does the 2021 LCS start?
The 2021 LCS Spring split starts on Friday, February 5 at 3 p.m. PT, 6 p.m. ET.
Read Also
Esports Betting
These Are Our Betting Tips for the League Championship Series Week 4
Ben Boland
The 2026 LCS Summer Split is in full swing, with the eight North American squads all vying for a chance to represent the region at this year's World Championship. With Worlds being on home soil, there is more than just a ticket to Worlds at stake. Each series in the regular season carries weight, as the standings will determine their seeding and potentially their fate in the playoffs. Week four ...
League of Legends
Caps To Be Announced As Third Inductee in the LoL Hall of Legends
Hannan Mundia
After Faker and Uzi were inducted into the Hall of Legends in 2024 and 2025 respectively, the European League of Legends player Caps will be the next to get the same treatment. League of Legends has been a cornerstone in the professional gaming scene for over a decade. In that time, a handful of players have managed to leave their mark for all future fans and fellow players to learn ...
Esports Betting
MLBB is the most-watched game from the EWC, and it’s hard to see another game beating it
Michael Hassall
The Esports World Cup 2026 has officially passed its midway point and viewership figures for the tournament have surpassed many expectations so far, as per Esports Charts. The viewership tracking site revealed new statistics for the event on Aug. 6, showcasing just how many games had set new records in viewership, including one name leading the way in views: Mobile Legends: Bang Bang. MLBB leads the viewership charts with the ...
League of Legends
LCK 2026 Rounds 3–4 Preview, Schedule, Predictions, and More
Hannan Mundia
2026 LCK Rounds 3-4 are slated to start soon, and this preview highlights the schedule, our expert predictions, and everything else you need to know before watching. The LCK has been upside down recently. Teams that were considered absolute powerhouses are seemingly falling off, while previous underdogs have been causing upset after upset. 2026 LCK Rounds 3-4 are starting soon, and the big question here is which team will reign ...
League of Legends
LEC 2026 Summer split preview, schedule, predictions, and more
Hannan Mundia
The 2026 LEC Summer split will be the deciding split to determine which teams can make it to the World Championship, and this preview aims to highlight everything you need to know about it. It isn’t a stretch to say that the LCK and LCP are the only two competitive League of Legends regions actually pulling their weight currently. The LEC did show potential at the start of the year, ...
League of Legends
How is League of Legends Classic different from the modern version?
Hannan Mundia
League Classic brings the classic League of Legends gameplay and design from when the game first came out, but how is it different from the modern version? The modern League of Legends mode is arguably in its best state in terms of popularity, with a study even reporting that playing LoL can improve brain function. Over a decade of gameplay and multiple marketing tactics by Riot Games have bumped up ...
League of Legends
Best Champions for every role in League of Legends Classic mode
Hannan Mundia
League Classic sees the return of League of Legends Season 3, but which champions were deemed the best during that time? League of Legends has gone through a lot of changes since it first came out. While the map and item-related changes naturally impacted the game's state, so did the many champion nerfs, buffs, and reworks. Multiple champions played completely differently in Season 3 than they do now. Since League ...
