TL;DR
- Cloud9 invested $432,000 in a three-year contract for Ricky ‘floppy’ Kemery
- The organization maintains only floppy from previous roster, signaling complete rebuild
- Public salary disclosure challenges CSPPA and ESL transparency standards
- New European-focused lineup positions C9 as major international contender
- Transparency strategy creates competitive advantage in player acquisition
Cloud9 has strategically positioned itself to finalize its competitive Counter-Strike lineup through the substantial acquisition of Ricky “floppy” Kemery, with General Manager Henry Greer confirming the deal exceeds $430,000 in total value.
Floppy represents the sole survivor from Cloud9’s comprehensive organizational overhaul, which commenced when management announced plans to release the existing competitive squad after just eight months of operation. The South African esports organization ATK finalized a comprehensive player transfer arrangement with Cloud9 during early January, following C9’s extended period of utilizing temporary substitutes across multiple competitive events. After struggling to establish a consistent starting five, Cloud9 transferred multiple athletes to Gen.G before acquiring ATK’s core roster—a tactical decision that potentially conserved significant financial resources for the franchise.
Cloud9 CS:GO strategically transitions its North American defensive anchor to establish a new European operational base under the Colossus project identity!
???? Player: Ricky “floppy” Kemery
???? Role: Rifler / Anchor / Loveable Troll???? Contract length: 3 year (Starting 10/02/2020)
???? Deal Value: $432,000#C9win https://t.co/4iGzWs3Eku
— C9 HenryG (@HenryGcsgo) October 7, 2020
Cloud9’s Strategic Investment: Analyzing the floppy Acquisition
With the formal announcement of floppy’s signing, Cloud9 has demonstrated commitment to its publicly stated policy regarding transparent disclosure of player compensation packages. The three-year agreement totaling $432,000 establishes Kemery among the highest-earning competitors within the organization’s renewed lineup. Cloud9 has secured multiple prominent CSGO professionals throughout the previous month while openly discussing contractual specifics with stakeholders.
Revealing contract terms provides Cloud9 with significant strategic leverage in ongoing negotiations with ESL and associated member organizations, while simultaneously challenging the Counter-Strike Professional Players Association’s established protocols. None of the referenced entities currently publicize contract details as part of their operational transparency framework concerning business operations.
- CSPPA, FLASHPOINT conflict over competitor intellectual property rights following allegations of Association interference in league management
The CSPPA presents a particularly noteworthy inclusion among organizations affected by Cloud9’s disclosure approach. Despite positioning itself as the primary representative body for competitive CSGO professionals, its established agreements mandate that competing organizations cannot publicly reveal specific contract terms with their athletes, yet must provide these details to CSPPA internally. Furthermore, the Association has negotiated distinct arrangements with multiple tournament organizers while failing to produce a substantive standardized minimum contract framework for industry adoption.
A recognized competitor rejoins the competitive landscape as the sixth strategic element in #C9CSGO’s organizational revitalization narrative…
Please welcome @floppyCSGO back to the #C9FAM as the fourth confirmed member of the Colossus initiative! pic.twitter.com/WyRhM516F7
— Cloud9 (@Cloud9) October 7, 2020
From a team composition perspective, Cloud9 communicates a powerful statement to rival organizations regarding its willingness to invest substantially in securing optimal competitive assets. These dual strategic communications should strongly appeal to professional CSGO competitors evaluating organizational opportunities, particularly when alternative options like MIBR or various available head coaching positions across the esports landscape appear less compelling.
The current confirmed Cloud9 competitive lineup includes:
- Alex “ALEX” McMeekin
- William “mezii” Merriman
- Özgür “Woxic Eker
- Ricky “floppy” Kemery
- Aleksandar “kassad” Trifunović (Coach)
Strategic Insight: Cloud9’s European roster pivot represents one of the most significant geographical transitions in recent CSGO history, potentially reshaping competitive dynamics across multiple regions. Organizations considering similar international expansions should evaluate the Class Guide approach to understand how role specialization contributes to team success.
Action Checklist
- Analyze player contract transparency policies in your organization
- Evaluate international roster composition strategies using our Complete Guide framework
- Review CSPPA and tournament organizer relationship dynamics
- Assess financial implications of player transfers and acquisitions
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