Cloud9

Cloud9 (commonly abbreviated to C9) is an American esports organization founded in 2013. In Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Cloud9 are well-known for their underdog journey at ELEAGUE Boston 2018, becoming the first (and currently only) North American team to win a Major.

Cloud9 was founded by Jack Etienne, a former League of Legends player and coach. The organization started with a League of Legends team, which quickly found success in the North American scene. In 2014, Cloud9 expanded into Counter-Strike: Global Offensive with the acquisition of a former professional Counter-Strike 1.6 team. The CS: GO team found immediate success, winning several tournaments in their first year.

In 2016, Cloud9 made history by becoming the first North American team to win a Counter-Strike Major tournament, defeating SK Gaming in the finals. The team followed up their Major win with a first-place finish at the ELEAGUE Major in Boston 2018.

In 2018, Cloud9 added an Overwatch team and a Fortnite Battle Royale squad. The Overwatch team won the inaugural season of the Overwatch League, defeating the Philadelphia Fusion in the finals.

Cloud9 is one of the most successful esports organizations in the world, with teams in a variety of games. The organization is headquartered in Los Angeles, California.

Team History

Cloud9 has seen a great deal of success in its short history. In 2014, the organization's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive team won the ESL One Cologne Major, becoming the first North American team to ever win a Counter-Strike Major.

In 2016, Cloud9's League of Legends team qualified for the World Championship, becoming the first North American team to do so in five years. The team went on to make it to the semifinals of the tournament, eventually finishing in fourth place.

In 2018, Cloud9's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive team won the ELEAGUE Major Boston, again becoming the first North American team to win a Counter-Strike Major.

Cloud9 is one of the most successful esports organizations in the world, and its achievements are a testament to that. The organization will continue to be a force in the world of esports for years to come.

Controversies

In 2016, it was revealed that one of the team's players had been using an aimbot (a program that helps a player aim more accurately) in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive competitions. The player was banned from the game and Cloud9's reputation was tarnished, with many calling for the team to be disqualified from the tournament in which it was competing.

In 2018, the team was again in the headlines for the wrong reasons when one of its players was accused of sexual harassment by a female streamer. The player denied the allegations but was ultimately released by Cloud9.

These controversies have led to calls for greater regulation of esports teams and players, to ensure that such incidents do not occur in the future. At the same time, they have also served as a reminder of the fragility of the esports industry, which is still in its infancy and yet to establish clear rules and regulations.