Some farewells are hard to take. The North American League of Legends fans were surprised with disappointing news. Sources reported that AD Carry Kim “Berserker” Min-cheol will part ways with his team, Cloud9 before the 2025 competitive season. His impact on the team has been undeniable throughout their competing journey. It is just barely three years since Berserker became a player of Cloud9 in late 2021.
Given that, him and his team neither confirmed the news that has been going around the community. However, whether it is true will leave an impact for Berserker and Cloud9.
The Rise of Berserker in NA
November 2021 marked the beginning of Berserker’s journey in the North America scene of League of Legends. He joined his current team, Cloud9, from the T1’s academy system. The South Korean talent rapidly made a statement in the league for himself during the LCS. There, he showcased his exceptional skills while playing in the bot lane. In his stint with C9, Berserker was able to win significant tournaments.
Together with his team, Berserker won the 2022 LCS Championship and the 2023 Spring Playoffs. With these victories, they were able to make two consecutive Worlds appearances from 2022 to 2023. His feat definitely established his position among the formidable ADC’s in their region. Thus, his potential departure may cause troubles for the team.
Cloud9’s Disappointing 2024 Season
This year’s season has not been good for Cloud9 as they faced struggles on their Worlds 2024 journey. Pressure and expectation plagued the team after the roster changes that included midlaner Jojopyun and the support Vulcan. Despite the stellar performances as individual players, the team struggled to achieve their goals for the 2024 season.
During the Spring Split 2024, Cloud9 were only able to finish in third place with a final standing of 8-6. In the following Summer Split 2024, the team fell short against 100 Thieves in the lower bracket semifinal to end in 4th place. Due to this, the team missed the qualification for the Worlds 2024. The underwhelming performance of Cloud9 may have been a factor in the decision-making of Berserker.
The Super Team That Didn’t Quite Super
The hype and excitement lived for the roster of Cloud9 during the 2024 season. They’ve been named as a “super team” during the off-season, which made fans and analysts anticipate. The recruitment has been superb for Cloud9 as it combined the established talents and rising stars. With this, they are definitely a formidable team to dominate the LCS and international stage. However, disappointing results came one after another that led the team to take a step back from representing the region in the Worlds.
What’s Next for Berserker?
The future remains unclear for the ADC star, as sources have not mentioned anything about his plans. Despite potential departure from a team, it does not mean that it’ll close the doors for the 21-year-old ADC carry, Berserker. He may join a different team in North America or choose to stay back at home in South Korea. Berserker may also explore playing opportunities in other major regions as a decorated player.
Cloud9’s Roster Uncertainty
The impact of his departure from the team may not be the sole challenge that Cloud9 is facing right now. There are recent reports that suggest midlaner Jopojyun be removed from the active lineup. Throughout the 2024 season, C9 has been struggling with his repeated tardiness issues. Due to this, uncertainty sits in Cloud 9, as their two key players are on the way out of the team.
Looking Ahead to 2025
It shocked the fans as rumors went around of Berserker’s potential departure from the team. Despite showcasing exceptional individual performance in their tournament stages, Berserker’s effort falls flat along with his team. While nothing has been confirmed nor denied by both parties, the eyes are hot on Berserker and Cloud9. With the inching conclusion of the 2024 season, some teams are already starting to prepare for their 2025 season run.
The roster changes in works for most teams certain to add a layer of unpredictability in the competitive scene. For now, the fans can only speculate on Berserker’s decision and hope for the best for him and Cloud9.
