Cloud9 League of Legends

Origins and Formation

The Cloud9 League of Legends team originated from the ashes of Quantic Gaming's roster in early 2013. After Quantic's lineup disbanded, players including Hai, LemonNation, Nientonsoh, Yazuki, and WildTurtle formed a new squad called Team NomNom. Their initial attempt to qualify for the LCS ended in failure during the group stage of the Season 3 North American Offline Qualifier, where they were defeated by Azure Gaming and Team MRN. Following this setback, Nientonsoh and Yazuki left the team.

The remaining core rebranded to Cloud9 and found success at the 2013 MLG Summer Promotion Qualifiers, defeating Velocity esports in the finals. This victory earned them a spot in the NA LCS Summer Promotion tournament. During this period, the organization was briefly reacquired by Quantic Gaming on April 1. The classic roster of Balls, Meteos, Hai, Sneaky, and LemonNation went undefeated in the promotion tournament, securing their place in the LCS. Shortly after, former Team SoloMid manager Jack Etienne purchased the players' contracts for less than $20,000, establishing the Cloud9 organization as it is known today.

Dominant Early Years (2013-2015)

Cloud9's entry into the LCS was nothing short of spectacular. In their debut 2013 Summer Split, they set a record with a 13-game winning streak and finished the regular season with a dominant 25-3 record. They swept through the playoffs, defeating Dignitas 2-0 in the semifinals and Team SoloMid 3-0 in the finals to claim their first LCS championship. Their overall game record for the season was an astounding 30-3, a 90.9% win rate that set a new league standard. Their first international tournament, the Season 3 World Championship, ended in a quarterfinal loss to Fnatic. They closed the year by defeating that same Fnatic squad at the Battle of the Atlantic, marking their first victory over an international team.

The team's dominance continued into 2014. They closed the Spring Split regular season on another 13-game streak, finishing 24-4. They then went undefeated in the playoffs, sweeping Team Curse and then Team SoloMid again in the finals for their second consecutive LCS title. This playoff run extended their overall winning streak to 18 games. Their victory earned a spot at the 2014 All-Stars event, though mid-laner Hai missed it due to a collapsed lung. Although they finished second in the Summer Split, they qualified for the 2014 World Championship. There, they became the first North American team in two years to defeat a Korean squad, NaJin White Shield, before being eliminated in the quarterfinals by Samsung Galaxy Blue. The year ended on a high note with Cloud9 winning the IEM San Jose tournament, sweeping Unicorns of Love in the finals.

The 2015 season brought the first major challenges. After a second-place finish in the Spring Split, founding mid-laner Hai retired on April 22, citing chronic wrist pain and a loss of team confidence. This ended the team's record-setting run of a stable starting lineup at nearly 750 days. Incarnati0n, later known as Jensen, was signed as his replacement. The Summer Split was a struggle, with the team starting 3-7. Meteos stepped down and Hai returned to the roster, but they finished 7th and missed the LCS playoffs for the first time. However, they staged a miraculous run through the North American Regional Qualifier, defeating Gravity Gaming, Team Impulse, and Team Liquid to secure a spot at the 2015 World Championship. There, they started 3-0 before losing their next four games and being eliminated. By year's end, another founder, LemonNation, retired from play and moved to a coaching role.

The Reapered Era and a New Core

A new chapter began in 2016 with the hiring of head coach Bok 'Reapered' Han-gyu and significant roster changes. The team acquired top laner Impact from NRG eSports to replace Balls, brought Meteos back to the main roster to replace Rush, and promoted Bunny FuFuu. Jensen was named to the Spring Split All-Pro team. This new core found immediate success, reaching the Summer Split finals but losing to Team SoloMid. In that playoff run, Jensen set an LCS record with 20 kills in a single game against Team EnVyUs. They qualified for the 2016 World Championship via the Regional Qualifier, advancing to the quarterfinals where they were swept by Samsung Galaxy.

In 2017, with rookie jungler Contractz, Cloud9 continued to be a top contender. They started the Spring Split 8-0. Reapered was named Coach of the Split, Contractz was named Rookie of the Split, and Smoothie was named to the All-Pro team. They reached the finals once more, but again fell to Team SoloMid in a close 3-2 series. The Summer Split ended with a quarterfinal loss to Team Dignitas. During this period, the team sold the contract of substitute Meteos to Phoenix1. The structure implemented by Reapered created a foundation for lasting competitive success.

Historic Performance and Return to the Summit

After several years of coming close, Cloud9 finally recaptured the LCS championship in the 2020 Spring Split. Their performance was widely considered one of the greatest single-season showings in league history. The team did not stop there, claiming their fourth LCS title the very next split by winning the 2021 Mid-Season Showdown in Spring 2021.

These victories confirmed Cloud9's status as the most successful organization in the early history of the LCS franchise era. They proved their ability to rebuild and retool rosters while maintaining a consistent culture of excellence, a direct result of the infrastructure built during the Reapered era.

Legacy and Records

Cloud9's impact on the LCS is defined by both sustained success and record-breaking performances. They hold several key league records, including the highest winning percentage in a single split at 92.9% and the longest game winning streak in a single split at 18 games. Their early 30-3 season record in 2013 also set a high watermark for dominance.

The organization is also known for its stability and player development in its formative years. The original roster of Balls, Meteos, Hai, Sneaky, and LemonNation held together for nearly 750 days, the longest-standing starting lineup in professional League of Legends history at the time. This core not only won championships but also became fan favorites and ambassadors for the North American scene.

Furthermore, Cloud9 has been a gateway for international talent to succeed in North America, most notably with the acquisition and success of Korean top laner Impact and the influential coaching of Reapered. Their consistent qualification for World Championships, including notable runs in 2014, 2015, and 2016, has made them a standard-bearer for the region on the global stage. The organization's journey from a player-owned team purchased for under $20,000 to a multi-time champion illustrates its foundational role in the professionalization of the LCS.