Gen.G esports vs Cloud9

This is where things get a whole lot more interesting -- doubly so after yesterday's shellacking. Gen.G taking on Cloud9 is by no means the most tremendous quarterfinal match-up one can imagine, but it's nonetheless wholly interesting and could, potentially, deliver in the most unexpected of ways.

First things first, let's not build any unnecessary suspense here: Gen.G are favored and there's a good reason why. They've had quite a phenomenal Group Stage run, and even though they're a flawed team (if not even a bit one-dimensional in their approach and overall playstyle), they can still pack a punch and compete with the best of 'em.

The group in which they had been competing was by no means easy, with MAD, LNG, and TL all having some truly respectable showings. In fact, the four-way tie at the end was the first of its kind -- never before had we seen a group quite so competitive. In the end, however, Gen.G persevered and emerged on top which is a testament to their preparation, inherent talent, and overall depth. Are they the most flexible team around? Not by a long shot, but if they play their own style and manage to establish the kind of pace *they* want, they're definitely a force to be reckoned with.

Cloud9, on the other hand, were both astoundingly horrendous and also stupendously impressive. How is that even possible, you might ask? Well, that's a very good question, and there's no simple answer in sight. They're just *that* kind of team, with immense highs and abysmal lows, with nothing in between. They'll either dominate beyond measure or implode trying, and it's not tied to whom they're up against either -- Cloud9 are their own worst enemies. Still, it seems that they've had just enough time to acclimate to the current meta and find their own comfort picks. Their second round robin was incredibly impressive, but it's hard to fully judge whether that was just a one-off kind of occurrence or a sign of the things to come. We know for a fact that they're very capable, but for some odd reason they cannot get on the same page and execute consistently enough -- that's been the bane of their existence.

Still, historically speaking, Gen.G often struggled against teams like Cloud9, teams that could take the reins early on and never let go, teams that could build big enough leads in the early game and snowball to victory. Gen.G prefer taking things slow, as they're still the quintessential LCK team -- subdued and reserved until a big enough lead is built. They prioritize the mid and late game, which doesn't mean they're incapable of going for plays early -- far from it, as evidenced by Bdd's immaculate Zoe plays against LNG. But they're vulnerable, and against a team like Cloud9 they might struggle to find their footing should the boys in white and blue pressure them from the very get-go.

In any case, Cloud9 have a shot, and the odds of them pulling off an upset are simply too great to pass up.