Cloud9 leaf surprised with VCT Americas run: “I thought we would definitely have some bad losses”

  ❘   Printed: 2023-05-16T17:41:40

  ❘   Up to date: 2023-05-16T17:41:48

Cloud9 are assured a top-two end within the common season of VCT Americas after going 7-1 earlier than the ultimate week of competitors. Cloud9’s Nathan ‘leaf’ Orf spoke with Dexerto about his early season expectations and the crew’s mentality.

Cloud9 got here into the VCT Americas cut up with a drastically new roster because the North American squad dropped in-game chief Anthony ‘vainness’ Malaspina and star participant Jaccob ‘yay’ Whiteaker shortly after a top-16 end at VCT LOCK//IN.

Their replacements got here within the type of Jake ‘jakee’ Anderson and Dylan ‘runi’ Cade, two gamers with virtually no prior tier-one expertise. Not many individuals had excessive hopes for Cloud9 heading into the season, and even the crew’s gamers have been caught off-guard by the wonderful run.

“Not 7-1 for positive,” leaf mentioned about his expectations. “I believed that we’d positively have some losses that had been dangerous. You understand, like map losses.”

Cloud9’s leaf on his crew’s success in VCT Americas

If Cloud9 and LOUD finish the common season with the identical variety of victories, the Brazilian aspect will declare the highest spot as a consequence of having the head-to-head benefit. Nonetheless, Cloud9 presently have one of the best map (+12) and spherical document (+71) within the league.

“I really feel like we’ve been in management most of our video games, and we’ve had good recreation plans and good reactions and diversifications. So, I imply, can’t count on greater than that,” he mentioned.

The crew has not dropped a map since their collection in opposition to NRG in Week 4, with their closest map within the final 4 matches being a 13-9 win in opposition to FURIA on Fracture.

Regardless of Cloud9 constantly successful decisively, leaf mentioned his crew at all times has one thing to speak about in observe when it comes to what could be improved, and that the squad is at all times seeking to change issues when it comes to technique and composition.

Marv Watson/Riot Video games

Cloud9 has a number of the finest statistics throughout the complete VCT Americas league.

“I believe that we type of nonetheless have increasingly more to study and with every week, it’s not likely like a disappointment with the rounds that we lose, as a result of we nonetheless must study, prefer it’s a given,” he mentioned.

Cloud9 have already locked of their spot for the playoff stage of VCT Americas, the place they’ll solely want one win to qualify for VCT Masters Tokyo. In these subsequent phases, Cloud9 may face new challenges and adversities, however the crew is just not too fearful about how they’ll react to these situations, based on leaf.

“We simply ensure that all people is aware of what to do in the event that they’re uncomfortable and speaks up about it. Simply ensuring that we’re an precise, like, crew. I believe that adversity will likely be very exhausting to interrupt us. Clearly, you’ll be able to at all times lose a recreation, however I believe it’s very completely different shedding a recreation after which like mentally shutting down after which immediately getting destroyed within the subsequent recreation that you just play and stuff like that. I believe that that’s the place we’re going to be good. I believe we’re going to have the ability to bounce again [from losses] fairly simply,” leaf mentioned.

Cloud9 will finish their VCT Americas cut up with a match in opposition to the winless KRÜ Esports on Might 19 and can begin their playoff stage marketing campaign on Might 24 as one of many prime two seeds.