Sneaky discusses C9 win over OpTic, lag in NA, Korea, and cosplay

Cloud 9 has elevated their standing to 4-1 by delivering OpTic Gaming their inaugural defeat in the LCS Summer Split.

According to Zachary “Sneaky” Scuderi, the team’s objective remains securing the championship title, though their tactical approach evolves with each competitive season. Following the triumph, Sneaky shared insights with WIN.gg regarding the victory, seasonal preparations, and upcoming cosplay concepts.

What was your assessment of today’s competitive performance?

Overall, I’d characterize our execution as exceptionally clean. We encountered minimal complications throughout the match, with the most demanding aspect being the bottom lane dynamics.

What specific challenges emerged in that lane?

We faced the challenging Yuumi matchup while utilizing Braum, creating a significant disadvantage in the support role. Despite this inherent counter, we managed to stabilize the situation. Our mid-game transitions proved particularly effective, with strategic Ryze selections enabling multiple advantageous team engagements. We only conceded a single skirmish in the central portion of the map.

How did you approach competing against the undefeated OpTic roster?

We entered the match with considerable uncertainty regarding their capabilities. Having avoided scrimmage sessions with OpTic throughout the pre-season and initial competitive weeks, we lacked direct reference points for their performance level. Their flawless 4-0 record suggested potential dominance, making this victory particularly meaningful against a genuinely skilled opponent.

What tactical adjustments might have improved your performance?

Primarily, we needed deeper understanding of the Braum versus Yuumi dynamic. This was our first competitive experience with this specific matchup, creating uncertainty about its difficulty scaling. However, we secured dragon control effectively whileNisqy demonstrated strong mid lane presence, facilitating numerous successful engagements that minimized required adjustments.

What tactical reasoning guided your early Baron Nashor attempt despite being at a disadvantage?

In competitive League of Legends, teams frequently engage in Baron standoffs where securing the objective becomes challenging due to enemy interference. The optimal approach for an advancing team involves systematically clearing opponents from their jungle territory.Once established, this positional advantage significantly complicates enemy Baron attempts.

We successfully eliminated three opponents during this phase, enabling an early Baron acquisition that substantially shifted momentum.

How significant was this Baron secure in altering the game’s trajectory?

Currently, Baron Nashor functions as a potential game-ending objective. The empowered minion waves become nearly indestructible, allowing teams to systematically dismantle turret defenses and extend advantages, provided they avoid critical errors.

What prompted your decision to pursue a subsequent Baron shortly thereafter?

Teams consistently maximize Baron opportunities whenever feasible. Against OpTic, the second secure became necessary due to their exceptional wave clear capabilities that prevented conventional siege approaches.

Occasionally, a single Baron buff enables unstoppable momentum, but OpTic demonstrated exceptional defensive coordination against empowered minion waves.

Following your Spring Split semifinal appearance, what defines your Summer Split objectives?

Victory remains our constant ambition, while the pathways to achievement continuously transform.

What specific preparations supported these championship aspirations?

We implemented an innovative preparatory approach by conducting training in Korea. This represents a strategic departure from our typical schedule, as we traditionally visit before World Championships rather than domestic splits. The Korean server environment offers superior practice conditions primarily due to exceptionally low latency.

Korea provides access to a substantially larger player population with generally elevated skill levels. While theoretical alternatives exist near North American server locations like Chicago, the player density and quality cannot match Korean standards.The investment consistently proves valuable despite not necessarily featuring superior scrimmage partners.

I wouldn’t characterize our Korean scrims as qualitatively superior. We didn’t compete against premier teams, with our most beneficial practice occurring against G2 Esports preceding MSI. Most sessions involved Korean challenger squads maintaining active scrimmage schedules.

How significantly did this preparation enhance team performance?

Through repeated Korean bootcamps, I’ve confirmed substantial benefits for mechanical execution across multiple champions.

I’ve experienced situations with elevated ping in regions like Florida where certain champions like Lucian became fundamentally unplayable due to mechanical limitations. Higher latency severely restricts ability to execute complex champion mechanics, limiting viable picks to more forgiving options like Sivir.

Korean training particularly benefits solo lane specialists.Nisqy andLicorice gain considerable advantages from the optimal server conditions.

What differentiates Cloud9’s approach for this competitive split?

Each competitive segment presents unique challenges and discoveries. We continuously develop self-awareness and adapt to each gameplay patch as the meta evolves.

Internally, we’re implementing more substantial changes this time. While daily routines feel familiar, last split revealed deficiencies in our video review processes.

This season we’re committing to comprehensive VOD analysis once recordings become available. We plan collective review sessions to establish strategic alignment, identifying successful tactics from other teams that we can incorporate into our own playbook with enhanced tactical discussions.

How do you maintain your cosplay commitments alongside professional gaming?

Cosplay production typically requires just a single day commitment. I schedule these sessions during our designated off-day, typically Monday, involving studio photography sessions.

What was your perspective when teammates participated in cosplay activities?

The experience involved primarily makeup application, yet provided valuable exposure. My teammates gained firsthand understanding of the process, though Svenskeren expressed strong aversion, declaring “I hate this. I’m never doing it again.”

What prompted his negative reaction?

The extensive time investment likely contributed to his dissatisfaction.

Are you currently developing new cosplay concepts?

I maintain a consistent schedule of approximately one cosplay monthly, occasionally accelerating production. My Patreon commitments necessitate this regular cadence. My upcoming project features a League of Legends champion from the solo lanes, maintaining my preference for female character portrayals.

What attracts you to predominantly female character cosplays?

Fundamentally, female character costumes feature exceptionally creative designs that diverge completely from my everyday attire options.

I’m not excluding male character cosplays entirely, but their designs typically involve conventional clothing like pants and shirts.

I previously considered Naruto cosplay but found the costume elements relatively simplistic. The distinctive aesthetic of female character portrayals represents the most compelling aspect of cosplay artistry.

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