Cloud9 gets crushed by G2 Esports to start Rift Rivals 2019

G2 Esports launched their Rift Rivals 2019 campaign with an authoritative performance that left no doubt about their current form.

The reigning Mid-Season Invitational champions demonstrated why they remain a global powerhouse, dismantling Cloud9 in a match that showcased the growing gap between regional playstyles. This commanding win established immediate momentum for the LEC representatives on the tournament’s opening day.

Leading up to the competition, G2 strategically teased their intention to deploy unconventional picks and innovative strategies. They executed perfectly on this promise, demonstrating remarkable squad flexibility through a calculated role exchange between top laner Martin “Wunder” Hansen and bottom laner Luka “Perkz” Perković that caught Cloud9 completely unprepared.

This strategic boldness represents a key differentiator for elite teams – the willingness to disrupt conventional lane assignments creates unpredictable pressure points that opponents struggle to counter. The role swap specifically targeted Cloud9’s preparation patterns, forcing them to adapt to unfamiliar matchups in real-time.

In stark contrast, Cloud9 opted for a traditional approach, selecting the Sona and Taric combination for their bottom lane. This composition has historically struggled against G2’s aggressive, tempo-based style, and the pattern continued unabated in this encounter.

The Sona-Taric pairing, while durable in sustained engagements, lacks the early game agency to counter G2’s signature high-tempo aggression. Teams facing innovative opponents often fall into the trap of relying on comfort picks rather than adapting to counter specific strategic threats.

Wunder, now in the bottom lane alongside support Mihael “Mikyx” Mehle, systematically dismantled Zachary “Sneaky” Scuderi and Tristan “Zeyzal” Stidam. The rest of G2 mirrored this aggressive posture, accelerating the game’s pace through coordinated map-wide pressure that overwhelmed Cloud9’s defensive structures.

Cloud9 attempted to match G2’s relentless tempo but consistently failed to establish meaningful influence. Jungler Robert “Blaber” Huang found minimal impact opportunities across all lanes, while top laner Eric “Licorice” Ritchie could barely maintain survival footing against the constant pressure.

G2 demonstrated exceptional rotational awareness, quickly regrouping and executing split-map strategies that left Cloud9 scrambling without coherent responses. The European squad’s advantage became so pronounced that they operated with complete impunity, destroying Cloud9’s top lane inhibitor at 17 minutes and amassing a staggering 15,000 gold advantage by the 20-minute mark.

Despite the match being decisively concluded, G2 extended the final moments, seemingly testing additional strategies while padding their elimination count. The conclusion arrived only when minion waves finally overwhelmed Cloud9’s nexus, adding psychological dimensions to the defeat.

This dominant display from G2 strongly indicates the LEC’s positioning to control the Rift Rivals tournament landscape. Their flexible, aggressive style presents matchup problems for teams accustomed to more methodical, structured approaches.

G2 now prepares for their day two confrontation against Team Liquid, reprising the MSI grand finals matchup that captivated global audiences. For teams looking to improve their strategic depth, our Complete Guide offers foundational principles that translate across competitive titles.

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