Cloud9 Start Their Major Run In Flawless Fashion

The PGL Copenhagen Major has started, but it’s only the Opening Stage. Cloud9, one of the highest-ranked teams in the first round, has joined the top dogs in the top sixteen, where they belong. 

Cloud9 Does Not Need An AWPer To Win

The Russian squad of Cloud9 had an interesting approach when building their roster ahead of Counter-Strike 2, with the absence of a dedicated AWPer since sh1ro left the team for Team Spirit. Though other teams have attempted this approach, none of them have been as successful as Cloud9.

Making Quick Work Of ECSTATIC

The lineup of Major winners began their run against popular skin trade zipeL’s squad, ECSTATIC on Ancient. 

HObbit, who has been the team’s heaviest underperformer in the past months, finally turned up by demolishing ECSTATIC on the Terrorist side. The veteran posted a K-D of 18-7, including an Ace round, to put Cloud9 in the lead at the end of the first half. 

However, the Danes could win the second pistol round and four more to suddenly put them in the lead at 10-8. Still, HObbit could continue his star-level performance on defense to help Cloud9 win the map 13-10, a 1.87 rating for the lone Kazakh. 

Massive Comeback Against Legacy

The Cloud9 squad was put up against coldzera’s team, Legacy, in the 1-0 pool. The battlefield was set on Overpass.

HObbit, again, started Cloud9’s first half with a strong performance on the Terrorist side. However, the rest of the team was lacking, with four players totaling a combined 13 kills only, allowing Legacy to run away with the first half at a 9-3 score. 

Perfecto, who only managed three kills in the first half, woke up in the second to bolster Cloud9’s defense. After the former Natus Vincere riflers found their footing, Cloud9 only dropped a single round on their Counter-Terrorist side, winning the second half 10-1 and the map 13-10. 

With these two Best of 1 victories, Cloud9 was sent to the 2-0 pool, only one series away from making it to the next stage. 

Revenge Against SAW

Cloud9 had some history with SAW, as the Portuguese roster eliminated them from the BLAST Spring Showdown after a 2-0 series. This time, the series was a Best of 3.

On SAW’s pick of Nuke, Cloud9 bounced back on their Counter-Terrorist side after a slow start, winning the half 7-5. The Eastern Europeans solidified their lead after winning the second pistol round, taking the lead further at 10-5. However, SAW showed they weren’t a bunch of pushovers, winning seven straight to put them at match point. 

Despite financial difficulties, Cloud9 managed to win the last two rounds in regulation to force overtime. Both teams could not be separated, as the first overtime ended 3-3, requiring a second overtime to be called in. Despite dropping two rounds in the first half of the second overtime, Cloud9 managed three straight Terrorist rounds to win the map 19-17.

The next map was set on Anubis, Cloud9’s map pick. Despite Anubis being such a Terrorist-sided map, Cloud9 could find five rounds on their defensive campaign, ending the half 5-7, which was more than enough. 

After swapping sides, Cloud9 began to dominate the map, winning the pistol round and three more straight. SAW could find two rounds to tie the score at 9-9, but Cloud9 won the next four rounds to win the map and series. 

#C9WIN to save your Pick’Ems#PGLMajor pic.twitter.com/jeCbA104Z7

— Cloud9 CS (@C9CSGO) March 18, 2024

Cloud9, a roster with household names in the Counter-Strike scene, had doubts surrounding how their lineup would perform in the first CS2 Major without an AWPer. It looks like they are just fine, as they have qualified to the Elimination Stage where all the top teams like FaZe, G2, and Team Spirit await.