After facing some serious resistance against Brave Heart and Zero Game, Cloud9 refocuses and wins a crucial series against Team YL, saving their chances for top 8 qualification.
Game 1 was extremely close, with both Cloud9 and Team YL fighting until the very last second. The game defining moment was an crucial Muradin / Tyrande combo on a YL Leoric, snowballing the last team fight in favor of Cloud9. Even though they won, there were hardly smiles or celebrations in the Cloud 9 booth; no one was comfortable with how close that was.
Game 2 was equally close up until the level 16 mark where YL's hero picks started spiraling out of control. Sonya and Kael'thas spiked in power sooner than Cloud9's Raynor and Valla, granting YL map control. A then desperate Cloud9 attempts to take the center boss and you can guess the end to this story. YL takes the game off the back of a stolen boss and several hero kills.
Game 3 had an interesting draft phrase that, in this writer's opinion, Cloud9 clearly won. They drafted ETC, Sonya, Tyrande and Sylvanas; all picks that are extremely powerful in the current meta. Opposing them YL took this opportunity to draft Muradin, Uther, Kael'Thas and Valla; a rock solid team that can kill a hero off of chained CC.
In response, Cloud 9 drafts a last pick Lt. Morales. It takes a lot of confidence to play such a squishy support, but if you manage to pull it off, it negates a huge part of YL's stun-and-kill lineup with the Innoculation talent and Stim Drone synergies very well with Sonya.
Sure enough, the mid game power level of Cloud9's team (and the fury of a Stim Drone Sonya) was enough to give the Americans the edge throughout the match. Garden terror after terror, Cloud 9 whittled their opponent down, ultimately winning the series through an aggressive push. Sonya lead her shadow stalked team straight down the middle of the map, picking off fleeing YL heroes on their way towards the core.
It was a hard fought victory and Cloud9 holds them selves to a high standard. Doubly so in this tournament, as they are representing the entire NA heroes scene and protecting their world championship reputation. This victory leaves them 2-2 which still puts them in contention for top 8 qualification.
Bonus: The profanity riddled comms during the match is an entertaining insight on the intensity that cloud9 is playing with. Check out the following archive, starting a the 1:41:00 mark for a cool preview of the comms during the match.
Follow us @GosuGamersHotS for more eSports news.
