TL;DR
- NRG secured their first LCS championship by defeating Cloud9 in a major upset
- The team overcame spring split struggles and regular season inconsistency to peak at playoffs
- Multiple players earned their first domestic titles after years of competition
- NRG qualifies as North America’s first seed for the 2023 World Championship
- Golden Guardians must compete in Worlds Qualifying Series for final spot

NRG captured the 2023 LCS Summer championship in spectacular fashion, delivering one of the most significant upsets in recent league history against the heavily favored Cloud9 roster.
In their inaugural LCS season, NRG achieved what most analysts considered improbable by not only claiming the title but also preventing Cloud9 from securing what would have been their third straight championship victory.
NRG began their championship weekend with a grueling five-game series against Team Liquid that tested their resilience. This hard-fought semifinal served as crucial preparation, allowing the team to refine their coordination and team fighting strategies that would prove decisive against Cloud9.

The path to championship success has been arduous for the NRG organization. Previously competing as CLG during the spring split, the roster failed to qualify for MSI 2023, highlighting their early-season struggles.
During the Summer regular season, NRG experienced inconsistent performances that nearly derailed their playoff aspirations. However, the team demonstrated remarkable timing by peaking during the postseason when championship stakes were highest.
Congratulations @Contractz ❤️ pic.twitter.com/Smbe3MJ3Qe
— LCS (@LCSOfficial) August 21, 2023
This championship represents an especially meaningful achievement for NRG’s players. Beyond bot laner Ian Victor “FBI” Huang, who previously experienced championship success, every other team member secured their first LCS title in this historic victory.
Jungler Juan “Contractz” Garcia finally captured his first domestic championship after six years of professional competition, marking a career-defining moment for the veteran player.
NRG is heading to Worlds
Following their championship celebration, NRG must quickly shift focus to international competition at the 2023 World Championship. The team enters the global tournament as North America’s premier representative with first seed status.
Cloud9 secured the region’s second seed position based on their championship points, while Team Liquid claimed the third seed through their consistent season performance.
Golden Guardians face additional hurdles in their World Championship aspirations. Due to format adjustments, North America’s fourth seed must compete against EMEA’s fourth seed in the Worlds Qualifying Series for final tournament placement.
The decisive Worlds Qualifying Series will be contested on October 9 at LoL Park in Seoul, featuring a best-of-five format where the victor advances to the Play-In Stage.

Action Checklist
- Analyze NRG’s team fighting coordination strategies against top opponents
- Review Cloud9’s championship dynasty and what made NRG’s upset particularly significant
- Study Worlds Qualifying Series format changes and regional implications
- Follow NRG’s international preparation leading to October World Championship
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