Cloud9 Sign “ALEX” for CS:GO Team as Part of Rebuild

After releasing its entire CS:GO roster just last week following their announcement surrounding a major rebuild, Cloud9 has signed their first player, with Alex “ALEX” McMeekin arriving at the North American organisation. As the first player to join the new project for Cloud9, the fact that they have been able to attract the former Team Vitality star shows that they are aiming for big things in the future.

The Cloud9 CS:GO team is now starting to take shape, with Henry “HenryG” Greer and Aleksandar “kassad” Trifunovic having been announced as General Manager and Head Coach respectively.

Why Cloud9 Opted for ALEX as Their New In-Game Leader

ALEX will fulfil the role of Captain for the new look Cloud9 CS:GO team, with the 24-year-old Brit having won the WePlay! Lock and Load shortly after joining Team Vitality back in December 2018. The form of ALEX also helped Vitality in winning the cs_summit 4 and ECS Seasoon 7 Finals in the summer of 2019, before they secured 2nd at the ESL One Cologne and DreamHack Masters Malmo. His time with the French organisation ended after winning the EPICENTER 2019, with Vitality having previously crashed out at the quarter-final stage of the StarLadder Berlin Major.

Having formally had brief spells at teams including webSpell Gaming, melty eSport Club, Platinium Servers and Team LDLC, ALEX took a break from CS:GO after departing from Vitality in March this year, with the in-game leader having eluded to burnout as the reason for this decision. Having been a free agent ever since, fans will be pleased to see ALEX back, especially with a major organisation such as Cloud9.

What Does the Future Hold for the Cloud9 CS:GO Team?

ALEX has agreed to a three-year contract worth an estimated $1.6 million, with new Cloud9 General Manager HenryG having announced the deal on his official Twitter page. The former Team Dignitas and Team Infused player stated on Twitter that:

“As controversial and unorthodox a move it may appear, I’m excited to be able to reveal far more specific details to his contract than you’ve ever heard in any past blockbuster deal. I consider this a celebration of our investment into world class talent and long-term commitment to building a special team with our players and the game that fuels my passion. I want this information to reflect my mission statement of forging a team built stronger than the rest and destined for the podium.”

There is no news regarding additional arrivals at Cloud9, with a host of players having been linked with moves to the team, who are aiming for a fresh start following months of struggles. It is not just CS:GO where they are failing to live up to expectation however, with their League of Legends roster having also failed to deliver.