Cloud9 has a new roster and new apparel, but it has achieved the same results.
Debuting its fresh black and white jerseys and a lineup that includes RenĂ© “cajunb” Borg and Daniel “vice” Kim, Cloud9 started its new era at the BLAST Pro Series: Miami. While the ideal way to kick things off would have been with a few victories, Cloud9 instead ate a pair of tough losses.
Though Cloud9 likely would have preferred to ease its way into the event, it started things off in the deep end with a game against top-ranked team Astralis. Cloud9 looked up to the challenge by taking four of the first five rounds courtesy of a big opening by Will “RUSH” Wierzba, but once the Danes got the feel of their opponents they took complete control.
Astralis took a convincing lead by breaking off seven straight and kept its foot on the gas from there, advancing to match point early. Cloud9 settled back down and started taking rounds in the second half but had almost no chance of overcoming the deep deficit against a surgical Astralis. That translated to a 16-10 loss to open its run in the tournament.
Its second game opposite Team Liquid was eerily similar to that opening effort. Heroics from Maikil “Golden” Kunda Selim and Timothy “Autimatic” Ta allowed Cloud9 to run off to an early 5-1 lead, but Liquid regained its footing and roared back from there.
Cloud9 rallied hard in the second half, and worked its way into a 14-14 score. Just when the team looked poised to lock down a win, Russel “Twistzz” Van Dulken popped off to steal the momentum. Like Astralis, Liquid managed to shut down a Cloud9 comeback by taking a 16-14 win.
Though the outcomes may have been disheartening for Cloud9’s players and fans, this was still a strong showing from the team.
Despite entering BLAST Pro Series: Miami with just three days of practice, the new squad posted respectable numbers against arguably the two best teams in CS:GO today. Coupled with that were excellent demonstrations of each player’s individual talents, with Autimatic and Golden in particular flexing their muscles.
The tournament’s unforgiving format means that Cloud9 is almost certainly going to leave Miami empty-handed. Still, the former boys in blue gave their fans cause for hope in the long term.
BLAST Pro Series Miami runs through April 13. Cloud9 will play three more series at the event opposite Natus Vincere, FaZe Clan, and MiBR.
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