Cloud9 to ”Pause” CS:GO Team Due to Covid-19

The Covid-19 pandemic has hit Esports hard, however it is arguably CS:GO that has been impacted the most. This has been demonstrated yet further following the news that CS:GO is to take a break from the game, disbanding their roster in the process. The Cloud9 CS:GO lineup will take a break until the situation calms down, with the organization having broken the news over the weekend.

One of the main factors behind the decision was the challenges with remote competition. Remote training had proved difficult for the team, with the ongoing pandemic having meant that face to face practice was not a possibility. As a result, all players have been released, along with the vast majority of the coaching team.

What the Future Holds for Former Cloud9 CS:GO Players

The futures of Alex “ALEX” McMeekin, William “mezii” Perriman, Ricky “Floppy” Kemery, Erick “Xeppaa” Bach and Patrick “Es3tag” Hansen are up in the air as a result, with all having been made available for transfer. Meanwhile, Head Coach Chris “Elmapuddy” Tebbit has also parted company with the org, however Assistant Coach Joshua “M1cks” Micks has been kept on board.

However, in what will come as welcome news to Cloud9 fans, the team will return to action in the future, once the CS:GO scene in North America is more stable. Cloud9 CEO, Jack Etienne, spoke of the org’s commitment to maintaining its involvement, stating that the current situation had put “undue stress and difficulties in providing bootcamps, housing, and the mental health of the players.”

How Cloud9 Exited the CS:GO Scene for Now

The news does still come as a shock to fans, with Cloud9 having invested heavily in CS:GO over recent years, following the teams’ win at the Boston ELeague Major in 2018. ALEX was signed in September, with the org having looked to hit the ground running with its new look roster. Henry “HenryG” Greer was put in charge of proceedings, who came under fire for sharing the salaries handed to players.

In their final outing, Cloud9 were eliminated from the ESL Pro League Season 13 by MiBR, which ended months of disappointment in terms of results.