Team Dignitas vs Cloud9

Next up, we have an absolute barnburner: Cloud9 vs. Dignitas! This, for all intents and purposes, is a tremendously important match, not just for both of these teams but also for the overall LCS playoff picture. Cloud9 are still in sole possession of first place, but that’s almost guaranteed to change in a matter of hourse. Team Liquid, Team SoloMid, Dignitas, and 100 Thieves are all breathing down their necks, and they’re just one win away from tying the boys in white and blue.

This means that C9 is definitely at risk of losing their playoff bye — despite playing so darn well throughout the vast majority of the 2021 Spring Split. They were the de facto best team in North America for the longest time, but then, as the split progressed, things started changing in nuanced and hugely important ways. Right now, Cloud9 are on a three-game losing streak. Let that one sink in. And sure, two of those three losses came at the hands of top-tier teams, but they’re losses all the same. There are just two games left to be played and they simply cannot afford to lose any longer, at least not if they want to lock down a spot at the very top of the region.

Dignitas, on the other hand, are one of their biggest threats right now, although, to be fair, they’re not *the* biggest one. These two teams already faced off against each other and C9 emerged victorious, so they know what they’re up against, they know what Dignitas does best, so they can certainly prepare accordingly and get their hands raised yet again. But, as evidenced by this most recent slew of upsets, there are no guarantees whatsoever in Western League of Legends, so there’s no telling if yet another twist is in the cards. Cloud9 have certainly looked feeble and weak over their last few games so it’s not like they’re entering this match with any huge amount of hype or momentum. On the contrary. And it’s a frustrating thing, to say the least, and not because of any allegiance. You just hate to see it — a top-tier team struggling so darn much despite having all the right players and tools necessary to leave a mark. They shouldn’t be struggling this much after two months of competitive play. That’s more than enough time for them to synergize and come up with an identity to call their own. And yet they still fumble and fail with even the most basic things, depending on the day and whom they’re up against.

Then again, the same can be said for literally everyone else: Liquid are hot and cold, 100 Thieves are struggling mightily regardless of opposition, TSM go from being a top-tier behemoth to a bottom-tier dweller in a matter of hours, and Evil Geniuses are still as coin-flip as ever. Dignitas, however, have certainly been a lot more consistent than most which has allowed them to ascend the ranks and tie for second — quite an astonishing achievement given what they had to work with: an all-native line-up that most people didn’t give much thought to (and rightfully so). And yet this ragtag bunch of LCS veterans and Academy standouts have punched way above their weight-class and are currently looking to solidify their spot in the standings and enter the playoffs with as much momentum as possible.

Unfortunately, their loss to Team Liquid yesterday wasn’t easy to stomach and it definitely hurt their stock, at least ever so slightly. They’re still a top-tier team that can obviously trade blows with the LCS pantheon, but they’re also inherently flawed and, depending on the context, somewhat underpowered. Sure, if you give them all the tools they need (and want) they can definitely cause a lot of damage, but if a team knows how to play around their biggest catalysts and win conditions, then it seems as though Dignitas isn’t as dangerous or potent as some folks initially believed.

Of course, that was Team Liquid — arguably the biggest favorites to win the Spring Split, so it’s not like Dignitas lost to some random bottom-tier dweller. Still, their flaws and weaknesses were on full display, and Cloud9 should, by all means, be able to capitalize much like TL did. It probably won’t come easy (nor will be clean or commanding) but they should definitely be able to get the win and distance themselves from the rest of the pack.