I am stilll a C9 fan.

Getting to Worlds after placing 7th in the NALCS was a serious feat in and of itself. Perhaps next year they can get back to the top of NA, and use that momentum to make a bigger impact in at Worlds.

They really need to go in with more than one strategy though. Once it fell apart here, the entire team completely collapsed.

Looking forward to next year. C9 always seems to bring something new (then repeat it over and over again, unfortunately), and I never get tired of watching them, even when they're struggling.

They had a very good first week and their strategy surprised everyone, even a favorite for the title. Unfortunately once they got figured they lacked depth and ideas to adapt but you definitely have a reason to be proud of them.

Of course Incarnati0n has potential, he's European!

who is NOT gonna still be a fan? those people are the ones who cheer for the flavor of the month tema and play the flavor of the month champion. makes me sick and honestly for the people that make these nice posts we all have been fans even before worlds so lets all hear it one more time. C9C9C9C9C9C9C9C9C9C9

My friend showed me a video during the interview of Fnatic with Sjokz where I think Hai showed them the middle finger in the background, damn I lost all respect for them even if it was little when I saw it.

I hoped on the C9 train cause I liked their logo. Will probably root for them next year unless a new team with a cooler logo comes out.

If you're not a fan of someone because they're not #1 you're not a real fan.

I'm not a C9 fan, but I noticed that a lot of people gave C9 more credit than they deserved. Sure they pulled of those wins with that strat for the nice 3-0, but everyone ASSUMED they had something else in their back pocket ready.. cause like .. EVERYONE realized how predictable their current strategy was, even filthy casuals like me.. so obviously they had back ups ready and prepped for countering the counter comps right? They pros! No way they'd be a one trick pony right?..right??

Though If they ran that Yasuo comp against IG, they MIGHT have won one game. I enjoyed incarnation's yasuo. Also get rid of Balls, and build it from the ground up with sneaky and incarnation. C9 Rush Jungle pls?

Hai should get most valuable teammate award. To back after getting bashed by community and "fans", health problems, take c9 from the dumpster and show them, that they are actually really good team, change his lane and still secure spot at Worlds is pretty amazing. I also love how dynamic and aggressive his playstyle is right now.

I don't even think that you can find guy like that in other regions.

My question is: Will Hai stay? There are reasons for him to leave, there are reasons for him to stay. I will not be suprised either way, but the odds of c9 being on top of NA right away if Hai leaves aren't too good, there is no arguing that.

Losing Lemonnation is going to be huge. He will be VERY hard to replace.

Balls was weak top lane but Lemon was terrible bot. Insisting to run Morgana support into any/every comp they faced was worthless, as was his Karma addiction prior to that.

There is potential, it will be interesting what happens during the offseason with all the retiring going on. Incarnati0n and Sneaky are still top of the region.

Just because a team loses in the worlds does not mean they are bad. They are just not the best. I am still a C9 fan because I like the players and their strats. Winning is not everything.

The question is, though - who's gonna replace Hai (who came out of retirement to save C9) and Lemonnation (who I heard was retiring after Worlds)?

I completely agree. It's a shame about Lemon Nation wanting to retire in the off-season, but I think with the given time to get their synergy back and work out some issues. I think Cloud 9 will come back stronger than ever. Especially now that Incarnation has found his groove within the team.

Regardless of this out come at worlds. I'm extremely proud of them for making it so damn far despite the challenges they faced.

same. just disappointed as fuck

I too am still a C9 fan, and though they're out of the running, I thank them for the happy memories I will always treasure.

My favorite C9 memory from this year is when I was eight years old, playing the original Legend of Zelda. I spent a looooong time checking every bush, trying to find Level 2.

Tbh, and I'm ashamed to say this, I thought this would happen since the start of the season. When they didn't seem like their normal selves at the start of the spring split, when they faltered against TL in spring playoffs, when TSM beat them in the finals, and especially after Hai left. Then, Balls had his first loss on his legendary Rumble. I rooted for them all the same but....deep down I knew they weren't as good as before. Hai coming back helped obviously, Incarnati0n began to show his potential and the rest of the team seemed more confident. Nevertheless, I think next season will be their comeback. New jungler and new support will be big changes, I hope they find good replacements that are worthy of wearing the blue and white.

Can't really help but be proud of the team. The run they made from the end of the split through that first week of worlds was just great. Going to be interesting to see what roster changes they make.

I still want to be a C9 fan, though I don't know if I can unless something changes, and that something for me is Hai. Give anyone else on the team any slack you want, but 2 things showed the second weekend of worlds: Their pick phase was horrid (same champs/strat constantly), and their shot-calling was terrible. One thing I have noticed over time is that while Hai's shot-calling 'for the team' can be good, he screws up a lot of solo plays and can't shot call for himself too well (maybe he's watching the map too much, too worried about other lanes?). Also this weekend he blew a lot of play calling at barons and dragons. If it wasn't his call, then who made it, and why isn't Hai taking charge? Whether someone else's call or Hai's, it's a problem, and it's his problem.

I wasn't impressed with his individual play this weekend, and his Lee Sin was really lacking when he picked it. He also spent too much time early farming and not ganking regardless of pick. I think it would have been better to leave the team as it was with Meteos, and let a new shot-caller get practice. Yes, by the time Hai subbed in they recovered and made it to worlds, but I think w/o Hai the team would have got more games/more practice together with Meteos (who is still apparently good enough C9 is letting him start his own team), and had enough shot calling practice to come back stronger next season. Instead, if Hai in fact does leave, they will now have to work with two new people instead of just one (also based in Lemon retiring).

I think we (C9 and it's fans) sacrificed a playoff birth this season for a stronger next season, and now next season will be their trial run with a new jungler, shot-caller, and support. Bringing back Hai hurt more than it helped in the long run.

"Same"

C9 overcame all odds to even make it to worlds. Then they showed up really well in Week 1. Nothing to be ashamed of. All of America did its best, but they were beat fair and square. In life we do not always get the outcome we want. Which is what makes it so special when one of our teams performs so well. My hats off to CLG, C9 and TSM. Thank you for enjoyable games. Hope your next year is more successful! If anything they proved just how close they are to closing the skill gap.

Honestly, I don't really care that they lost. Being a fan because they're doing good isn't called being a fan. I like C9 because they fucking play Draven and Kha Zix in the Qualifiers.

just filled out my bracket.. have them slated to win worlds

http://i.imgur.com/ghhyn5g.png

Agreed. Cloud 9 made an amazing run! If they had won one more game they would've taken the cinderella story even further. Cloud 9 showed the world that you can't ever count out a team. Worlds is getting more and more competitive every year and the skill gap between teams is decreasing. I fully expect to see C9 come out swinging next year.

Being a CLG fan is like being in a bad relationship. You think it'll be better this time, until nope.

They ultimately lost because Balls' poor play forced them into one strategy. The worlds patch put pretty much all emphasis on the top lane, and by Worlds Balls was the least productive player on the team, and had been for pretty much the entire season. The Pentakill was cool, but they were punished for their weaknesses, which since season 4 has pretty much been a lack of a champion pool and mechanical skill in key positions. In season 4 it was Hai, and here in season 5 it was Balls. I anticipate when they come back next season they will have a new support, top laner, and coach. I believe Hai is going to be kept on as a Jungler. (unless they have said otherwise)

Ive supported C9 for along time and even though they are out of worlds, theya re still my favorite. I dont know what happened to them that last day but they got slaughtered. Even watching the matches they won, I was not too impressed with Lemonnation as Morgana.

Incarnation did real good

I cant really critique it too much because the pros have alot different play style them people play on normal games Ive played. All the teams just run around through jungle from the start and then they end up switching it up in the lanes and its awesome how it works out but so confusing to me haha. Ive played LOL for years and its so different

You sir are a true fan. C9 had a good run. Though I really thought all of you saying take my energy was really annoying. I'm kind of glad that can stop now.