TL;DR
- Cloud9’s sudden firing of coach LS overshadowed TSM’s roster changes during LCS week
- Players were aware of internal conflicts before the public announcement
- The mid-day Twitter announcement broke esports communication norms
- LS has returned to Korea while Cloud9 faces organizational scrutiny
- The incident highlights broader issues with coaching stability in professional League of Legends

During a recent broadcast of the Josh Leesman Experience podcast, esports commentators Barento “Razleplasm” Mohammed and Joshua “Jatt” Leesman provided immediate analysis of Cloud9’s shocking coaching staff termination.
Coach Nick “LS” DeCesare experienced abrupt dismissal from his leadership role with Cloud9’s LCS squad, while the organization’s formal communications failed to clarify the underlying reasons. The analysts explored how Cloud9’s promising new strategic direction collapsed unexpectedly over a single weekend and the potential consequences moving forward.
Both commentators noted that entering the LCS competition week, attention seemed focused exclusively on TSM’s surprising decision to move Wei “Shenyi” Zi-Jie to their Academy team roster. However, after Cloud9 competitors had already begun their matches, the head coach’s exit became public knowledge via social media platform Twitter. Viewers, broadcast professionals, and content creators collectively struggled to interpret this organizational decision. Announcing such significant personnel changes during daytime hours represented a departure from standard esports communication practices.
The TSM organization’s significant roster adjustment involving player Wei “Shenyi” Zi-Jie received substantially less attention than anticipated due to Cloud9’s concurrent coaching drama. This demonstrates how major esports stories can be overshadowed by unexpected organizational crises.
Professional esports teams typically follow established protocols for major announcements, including strategic timing to minimize disruption to player focus and competitive preparation. The decision to publicize LS’s departure while matches were ongoing suggests either urgency or poor planning within Cloud9’s management structure.
Common mistakes in esports organizational management include inadequate internal communication before public announcements and failure to consider timing impact on team performance. Organizations can avoid these issues by implementing structured communication calendars and ensuring player input during decision-making processes.
Both analysts turned to Cloud9 top laner Ibrahim “Fudge” Allami’s recent media appearance for potential clarification regarding the coaching situation.
During his discussion with interviewer Travis Gafford, Fudge revealed that internal disagreements between LS and other Cloud9 organizational members meant competitors understood changes were inevitable. Fudge additionally verified that team members had advance knowledge of the final decision, which both Jatt and Raz interpreted as evidence of extended internal disputes rather than sudden developments.
The interview context suggests players maintained awareness of organizational tensions well before public disclosure, indicating potential communication breakdowns between coaching staff and management. Such situations often create competitive disadvantages by disrupting team cohesion and strategic preparation.
Both commentators provided analysis before Cloud9 released their official organizational statement, but anticipated more detailed explanations from team members would eventually emerge through C9’s communication channels. LS has since relocated back to South Korea and currently streams LCK professional matches following his LCS departure.
The context from multiple interviews and organizational statements suggests the termination resulted from significant internal disagreements, though supporters may never learn the complete details behind these organizational conflicts.
This incident highlights broader challenges within professional League of Legends regarding coaching stability and organizational transparency. Teams seeking sustained competitive success should prioritize clear communication protocols and conflict resolution mechanisms, similar to strategies discussed in our Class Guide for optimal team composition planning.
Action Checklist
- Establish clear internal communication protocols before public announcements
- Implement conflict resolution mechanisms for coaching staff and management
- Develop strategic timing for organizational changes to minimize competitive disruption
- Create player support systems during transitional periods
No reproduction without permission:Games Guides Website » Raz and Jatt react to Cloud9 announcement of LS departure Analyzing Cloud9's coaching crisis and TSM roster changes with expert esports insights
