Cloud9 recruit two new players to the squad that include an LCS veteran

Cloud9 keep a core trio to go with an LCS veteran and a rising star midlaner.

Six-time LCS champions Cloud9 have settled on its rebuild with the return of Philippe “Vulcan” Laflamme from FlyQuest back into the fold alongside its new midlaner, Joseph “jojopyun” Pyun formerly of the now disbanded Evil Geniuses. This will be Vulcan's second stint with C9 after semi-successful 2020 and 2021 seasons that saw him and the org lift two LCS Spring titles.

As compared to last year, C9 had a much better season this time with its fourth LCS title in four years. This goes to show that C9 will lift at least one title a season after going five years with no silverware. And while C9 have been able to consistently perform on a regional level, its international performances still leave something to be desired.

C9 finished in the top-six at the Mid-Season Invitational earlier this year after they lost to Gen.G in the lower bracket quarter-finals. They then went on to finish second in the LCS Summer Split and proceeded to crash out of the Worlds 2023 Swiss Stage with a 1-3 record, which included a do-or-die series lost against Fnatic.

While Vulcan will bring some much-needed balance and experience into the side, jojopyun could add an x-factor that the team have been lacking for some time now. C9 have not had an explosive midlaner that is capable of carrying the game on his own since Nicolaj “Jensen” Jensen from 2015 to 2018. Jojopyun has already an LCS title during his short tenure with EG when he also made his MSI and Worlds debuts last season.

Having tied down its starting roster for the coming season, C9 will now be looking to dominate the LCS once more as it moves to an eight-team league. This came after both EG and Golden Guardians mutually parted ways with the LCS to adopt a new model for the region.