Cloud9 is hoping that a new European mid laner will prove the perfect replacement for Nicolaj “Jensen” Jensen.
Cloud9 surprised fans when the organization announced that Jensen would be leaving the team to join Team Liquid. Jensen joined Cloud9 in 2015 and was considered one of the star players for the team. In his place, the squad will bring on Yasin “Nisqy” Dinçer.
Nisqy is returning to North America after a year spent in Europe playing with Splyce. He was previously a member of the now disbanded Team EnVyUs.
The mid laner had a difficult year with Splyce, as the organization finished third in the spring split and fifth in summer. Splyce was part of the European squad at Rift Rivals, which the EU LCS would end up winning despite Splyce losing three of its four matches.
Nisqy will be sharing playing time with Greyson “Goldenglue” Gilmer, who announced that he’d be staying with Cloud9 to compete for a starting position. Both players will aim to become the starting mid laner in the spring. The new transfer and the competition between the mid laners continues Cloud9’s established strategy of maintaining an active roster larger than just five starters.
Despite a rocky start, Cloud9 made it to the summer split playoffs only to fall short against Team Liquid. Cloud9 went to compete at the regional qualifier where it became the third North American seed at the World Championship.
The team dominated the play-in stage and continued to win at the main event. Against all expectations, Cloud9 made the semifinals with a 3-0 sweep over Afreeca Freecs. They then lost to eventual runner-up Fnatic.
