TL;DR
- Cloud9 secured second place in LCS Spring Split with two decisive week nine victories
- Strategic champion drafting around Sneaky’s Jinx demonstrated exceptional team coordination
- Academy roster substitution proved organizational depth with convincing win over Clutch Gaming
- Team now awaits semifinal opponent while Academy team dominates their own bracket
- FlyQuest dropped to fifth place, setting up challenging quarterfinal matchup

Cloud9 demonstrated championship-caliber performance in week nine, securing two crucial victories that cemented their second-place standing in the 2019 LCS Spring Split regular season. This strategic positioning grants them significant advantages heading into the playoff phase.
While much attention focuses on the Team Liquid versus TSM rivalry for North American supremacy, Cloud9 has consistently maintained elite status through methodical gameplay and roster flexibility. Their ability to compete at the highest level without constant roster drama showcases organizational stability that many teams lack.
The World Championship semifinalists opened their week with a commanding performance against FlyQuest, centering their strategy around Zachary “Sneaky” Scuderi’s exceptional Jinx play. This marks one of the most effective ADC-centric compositions seen in the 2019 season.
Cloud9 constructed a perfectly balanced team composition with Eric “Licorice” Ritchie’s Ornn and Dennis “Svenskeren” Johnsen’s Jarvan IV providing frontline initiation, complemented by Yasin “Nisqy” Dinçer’s Morgana and Tristan “Zeyzal” Stidam’s Tahm Kench offering comprehensive backline protection.
The squad demonstrated masterful understanding of their primary win condition, executing flawlessly around their hyper-carry. FlyQuest attempted to create comeback opportunities after falling behind early, but Cloud9’s snowball effect proved overwhelming and methodical.
Every offensive maneuver FlyQuest attempted was met with immediate, coordinated response from Cloud9. Despite possessing adequate tools to pressure Cloud9’s backline, C9 showcased remarkable synchronization by consistently safeguarding Sneaky throughout critical engagements.
With their playoff position and first-round bye secured, Cloud9 implemented a strategic roster substitution, providing their academy lineup valuable LCS stage experience. This move demonstrates confidence in their developmental pipeline.
The secondary roster delivered an impressive performance with a decisive victory over Clutch Gaming. This demonstration of organizational depth highlights Cloud9’s unique capability to field competitive lineups across multiple tiers simultaneously.
Common mistake many organizations make is underestimating the value of academy integration. Cloud9 avoids this pitfall by systematically providing meaningful stage time to developmental players, creating seamless transition opportunities when needed.
By week nine’s conclusion, Cloud9 comfortably occupied second place while awaiting their LCS spring playoff semifinal opponent. Meanwhile, Cloud9 Academy dominates the academy playoffs after finishing their season in first position, scheduled to face Team Liquid Academy in their semifinal matchup.
FlyQuest experienced a standings decline from fourth to fifth following consecutive losses to Golden Guardians, their upcoming quarterfinal opposition. This creates a challenging playoff path for the team that must now fight through the lower bracket.
For teams looking to replicate Cloud9’s success, our Class Guide provides valuable insights into role specialization and team composition principles that translate across competitive gaming titles.
Action Checklist
- Analyze team composition synergy like Cloud9’s Jinx protection strategy
- Implement strategic roster substitutions to develop organizational depth
- Study snowball mechanics and comeback prevention strategies
- Review our Complete Guide for team coordination principles
No reproduction without permission:Games Guides Website » Cloud9 secure second place ahead of LCS spring playoffs Cloud9 dominates week nine with strategic roster moves and secures second place in LCS Spring Split
