TL;DR
- Perkz criticized LCS playoff scheduling for creating international competitive disadvantages
- Cloud9 secured first seed with 13-5 record and dominated early playoff matches
- The European star left G2 Esports primarily to return to his natural mid lane position
- Cloud9’s 2021 roster featured significant upgrades in top and mid lane positions
- The team’s structure was designed specifically for international tournament success
Cloud9’s star mid laner Luka “Perkz” Perković stands just one best-of-five victory from reaching the 2021 Mid-Season Showdown championship match, yet the tournament’s structural timing presents significant competitive hurdles according to the veteran player.
As spring competitions conclude across major global leagues, North America’s Mid-Season Showdown commenced noticeably earlier than other regions’ playoff phases. This scheduling discrepancy forces LCS teams to compete on League of Legends patch 11.5, while European (LEC), Chinese (LPL), and Korean (LCK) postseason matches will utilize the updated 11.6 patch. Perkz emphasized this creates tangible disadvantages during recent interviews, highlighting how the calendar arrangement undermines optimal preparation.
Following first-round victories in the Mid-Season Showdown’s opening week, upper bracket winners face an extended two-week competitive hiatus before resuming play. This interruption stems from necessary lower-bracket matches requiring completion first. For elite teams like Cloud9 and Team Liquid, this extended break disrupts competitive rhythm and momentum development.
Perkz further elaborated on version-specific concerns, noting the Mid-Season Showdown will persist on patch 11.5 throughout its entire duration to prevent mid-tournament gameplay alterations.
“The decision makes little strategic sense since we’re the solitary global region competing on 11.5 rather than 11.6 during playoffs,” Perkz articulated. “Whichever squad ultimately triumphs will enter the Mid-Season Invitational with noticeable preparation deficits.”
LCS organizations being restricted to patch 11.5 deprives them of crucial adaptation time with 11.6 modifications. Additionally, the championship team likely won’t experience competitive 11.6 gameplay before MSI, as the international tournament will likely implement even newer game versions.
Cloud9 entered the postseason as top seeds after dominating the regular season with an impressive 13-5 record. This privileged position granted immediate upper bracket access, where Perkz and teammates decisively eliminated 100 Thieves through a commanding 3-0 sweep.
Progressing through winner’s bracket matches, Cloud9 now prepares for a highly anticipated LCS Lock-In final rematch against Team Liquid. This encounter represents more than mere playoff progression—it’s an opportunity to avenge their previous tournament defeat.
The upcoming confrontation between these North American titans is scheduled for Saturday, April 3, with championship implications hanging in the balance.
It wasn’t easy to choose a Player of the Series today with how well all of
@Cloud9
played, but
@C9Perkz
was a playmaker all series long!
#LCS
pic.twitter.com/PG1Fz9qDiZ— LCS (@LCSOfficial)
March 21, 2021
Why did Perkz go to C9?
Perkz concluded his tenure with G2 Esports following the 2020 competitive season, having been associated with the organization since his professional debut in 2015. His relocation to Cloud9 primarily stemmed from aspirations to resume mid lane responsibilities. Following Rasmus “Caps” Winther’s G2 integration during 2018, Perkz predominantly served as the squad’s bot lane specialist. Originally establishing his reputation as a mid lane virtuoso, Perkz sought to reconnect with his foundational role, thus embracing the Cloud9 opportunity within North America’s LCS.
Cloud9 additionally presented a substantial financial package to facilitate his organizational transition.
Who plays for C9 in the 2021 LCS season?
Cloud9’s current competitive lineup demonstrates notable evolution from previous seasons, incorporating strategic modifications across both top and mid lane positions. This reconstructed squad embodies championship aspirations with specific focus on achieving international success during 2021’s global tournaments.
The Cloud9 2021 LCS roster is:
- Top – Ibrahim “Fudge” Allami
- Jungle – Robert “Blaber” Huang
- Mid – Luka “Perkz”
Perković - Bot – Jesper “Zven” Svenningsen
- Support – Philippe “Vulcan” Laflamme
Action Checklist
- Analyze patch timing disparities between regional leagues and their competitive impacts
- Evaluate player role transitions and their effects on team performance dynamics
- Assess roster construction strategies for international tournament preparation
No reproduction without permission：Game Guides Online » C9 Perkz has a strong opinion on the new LCS playoffs schedule Analyzing Perkz's strategic move to Cloud9 and the 2021 LCS playoff scheduling challenges