The Trouble with Hai

Is it Time for Cloud9's Mid to Move On?

Photo courtesy of Riot Esports

by Patrick Garren

Since the acquisition of Zachary “Sneaky” Scuderi from Quantic Gaming on May 23rd 2013, Cloud9 have had the exact same roster. They didn't actually "acquire" Sneaky from Quantic either - they WERE Quantic. Sponsorship issues led to their reformation as Cloud9. Founder and Team Captain, mid-lander Hai “Hai” Lam, chose the name Cloud9 because he believed that professional gaming should be about being happy. But Cloud 9 is the last place they were at the beginning of the 2015 Spring Split, when they saw themselves in a spot they hadn't seen since they made it into the LCS: last place. Read more...

Kings of the Rift : TSM Take the NA LCS Spring Split Championship 

Photo courtesy of Riot Esports 

 TSM and Cloud 9 get Ready to Rumble in the NA LCS Spring Split Finals!

by Jodi McClure

Last year when Cloud 9 met TSM in the LCS Finals, Meteos and his highly-skilled band 3-0'd them. Granted, it was a Lustboyless TSM with Odd One and Xpecial still in the mix, and the meta was completely different, but credit where credit is due. Cloud 9 are not a push over team by any stroke of the imagination, and even though TSM have had a superlative split, there's zero guarantees they'll be holding that big check at the end. Both teams have performed amazingly well. Cloud 9 had a slower start then TSM but slammed home a stronger finish. Turtle has been all flashy kills while Sneaky is the focused, mechanical giant. TSM excels at rotations and taking down turrets while Cloud 9 likes their objectives. It's all too beautifully even. If I were to stick my neck out and pick a winner of this Best of Five series, I wouldn't name a team, I'd name a color. A color shared by both Cloud 9's shirts and TSM's long sleeve button-downs. It's Blue - the color of convenience, and whoever starts this series on the Blue side of the map will ultimately win the trophy. I'll be cheering for my long-time favs, TSM, but I suspect we're going to see the series go five games, and whoever wins will definitely deserve it! 

Edward Gaming vs Invictus Gaming

LPL Playoffs Review 

The world’s uncontested No.1 team took on the surprisingly well-performing Invictus Gaming. With Pawn back in the starting line-up, was Invictus Gaming a threat for EDG’s mission to get to MSI? How did Rookie perform against Pawn? What about Clearlove and Kakao? Let’s have a look at the games played in this series! Read more...

by Michael "Tribble" Godani

LGD Gaming Takes Out the Pride of China

LGD Gaming Takes Out the Pride of China

The Oscars have been assigned and now it’s time for the real deal. OMG, the Chinese powerhouse, is taking on LGD Gaming, who are on a mission to MSI. Was OMG really throwing games intentionally as their coach stated, or was this a cover up for their sloppy performances? LGD’s story is clear, they trolled their way into the 6th seed to avoid EDG. Well, for both teams, it was time to perform and take it onto the rift! Read more...

LPL Quarterfinals Snake vs King Review

The two new teams in the LPL put on the Quarterfinals' best show! Did Flandre, Beast and Ella provide their ADC with enough space to fire away on the enemy team, or was King victorious in this match with their early pressure playstyle? There is a lot to say about this series, so let’s have a look! Read more...

Edward Gaming vs Team World Elite : The Top Dogs meet The Underdogs 

Before the games even started, there was an upset in Pawn not being able to play because of a possible injury. How would this series go without the Korean star midlaner for EDG? Would they be able to ace Team World Elite as everyone expected, or will the underdog show some neat tricks? Read more...

Edward Gaming vs Team World Elite - LPL Spring Split Quarterfinal Preview

Clearly Spirit Loves the Jungle

This will be the first of 7 previews that will be coming out during the playoffs of the LPL. The playoffs are single elimination best of 5.

This matchup features arguably the best team in the world against China’s biggest gaming organization as well as the LPL's favorite player in Spirit. Is there a possibility for World Elite to shock the world once more after their IEM performance? Or will Clearlove’s and his teammates be too much for WE to overcome? Let’s have a look at both teams their players, top picks and play styles. Read more...

Unicorns of Love - The Ultimate Fairy Tale?

Image courtesy of Riot eSports

by Louis "Guichex" Lemeillet

As the team who integrated into the LCS this Spring Split, participated in IEM San Jose instantly after, and are heading into their first playoffs finals, the Unicorns of Love are definitely a successful new team in the League of Legends scene. But are they exploring the full potential of their success? A lot of hype surrounded the team since their games in the promotion tournament; hype which still grows today as the Unicorns chants resonate in the Berlin studios, but still, where's the merchandise at? Where's the tons of sponsors? Where's the business? How did their hype go through the roof and what does the future have in store for them? Let's try to take a look at this fairytale they created on their own, both the story we can see and the one we cannot. Read More...

LPL Week 11 Review

The final week of the regular LPL spring split season. Who goes to the relegation tournament, who continues through to the playoffs and who is going to be in the top side of the bracket? Michael "Tribble" Godani takes you through the games. Read More...