TL;DR
- Cloud9 overcame 0-3 week one start to reach Worlds 2021 quarterfinals
- Strategic turnaround led by Perkz and Blaber created massive Fandex profit potential
- Share price surged from under $10 to peak at $27.42 during miracle run
- Bottom lane inconsistencies ultimately led to quarterfinals elimination
- Fandex investors who timed purchases correctly achieved nearly 300% returns

Cloud9’s journey through the 2021 World Championship quarterfinals defied all conventional expectations in the esports arena. The North American squad bookended their Reykjavik campaign with decisive 3-0 performances, framing an intensely dramatic group stage narrative that kept fans on edge. Amid swirling speculation about Perkz exploring other opportunities, questions linger about C9’s ultimate satisfaction with their tournament outcome. Beyond competitive achievements, Cloud9’s rollercoaster performance generated exceptional financial windfalls for astute participants on the Fandex platform, creating parallel success stories for both the celebrated roster and investment-savvy supporters.
From the initial group allocation announcement, analysts and enthusiasts globally had written off Cloud9’s chances entirely. Following consecutive playoff defeats against domestic rivals 100 Thieves and Team Liquid, the organization appeared to be at its most vulnerable competitive state in recent memory. Landing in the formidable Group A placed them directly against reigning world champions DAMWON KIA alongside Chinese powerhouse FunPlus Phoenix. Most observers positioned Cloud9 and European counterpart Rogue as inevitable casualties in the anticipated FPX versus DWG KIA battle for group supremacy. After the opening week’s matches concluded, this pessimistic forecast seemed entirely accurate.
Cloud9’s disastrous opening week featured three consecutive devastating losses that pushed them to the absolute brink of tournament elimination. Their initial defeat against Rogue proved particularly one-sided, with subsequent losses to DAMWON Gaming and FunPlus Phoenix compounding the crisis. The team appeared fundamentally disorganized, struggling to execute their trademark aggressive snowball strategies while demonstrating clear discomfort adapting to international opponents’ distinctive playstyles.
Common Strategic Mistakes: Many teams facing similar group stage pressure make critical errors in draft adaptation and early game planning. Cloud9’s initial failure to adjust their champion selections to counter specific regional meta trends nearly cost them their entire tournament. Successful esports investors recognize that teams showing flexibility in strategic approach often present better long-term value opportunities.
Cloud 9’s Miracle Day at Worlds
The second week marked the dramatic inception of Cloud9’s legendary comeback narrative. Facing elimination pressure, their crucial match against Rogue became an absolute must-win scenario, and Cloud9 responded with explosive aggression from the opening moments. Luka “Perkz” Perkovic and Robert “Blaber” Huang completely overwhelmed their European opponents. Blaber delivered an extraordinary performance, accounting for a remarkable 30% of team damage output while dominating as a 6/1/9 Lillia. Perkz contributed to an identical number of eliminations while demonstrating different strategic value through map control rather than raw damage numbers, finishing 5/1/10 on Leblanc. However, the team’s resurgence extended far beyond their celebrated mid-jungle partnership, featuring coordinated excellence across all positions.
Their subsequent encounter with FunPlus Phoenix evolved into a completely one-sided affair. Cloud9 comprehensively dismantled FPX, establishing gold advantage within the match’s initial minutes and maintaining relentless pressure throughout. FPX struggled desperately to counter Perkz’s map movements on Twisted Fate, while Nuguri and Tian failed to contain top laner Ibrahim “Fudge” Allani’s standout performance that redefined “NA Jayce” expectations. These consecutive victories secured Cloud9’s advancement to tiebreaker matches against Rogue, particularly after FPX failed to secure any victories during that competition day.
Cloud9 successfully navigated past Rogue only to encounter comprehensive defeat against Gen.G in the knockout phase. The formidable Cloud9 lineup that had electrified the global League of Legends competitive landscape suddenly vanished from view. Underwhelming performances from bot lane duo Jesper “Zven” Svenningsen and Phillipe “Vulcan” Laflamme became primary criticism targets among both fan communities and broadcasting professionals. Many observers had believed Cloud9 had resolved their historical consistency challenges, but the quarterfinals demonstrated this assessment was significantly premature. The series opener culminated in a tense Baron Nashor engagement where Gen.G emerged victorious. However, the subsequent two matches displayed substantially less competitive balance.
Advanced Performance Analysis: Teams experiencing similar knockout stage collapses often share common technical deficiencies in objective control and late-game decision making. For those exploring strategic class selection in other gaming titles, understanding how role-specific inconsistencies can undermine team performance provides valuable strategic insights.
Cloud9’s Fandex Share Price Skyrockets

Cloud9’s competitive journey generated exceptional financial opportunities on the fantasy stock exchange platform Fandex for strategically-minded enthusiasts. Their share value dipped beneath the $10 threshold twice during their Worlds campaign—once during late first week struggles and again immediately preceding their group stage resurgence. Both instances triggered rapid price recoveries as speculative investors identified substantial profit potential from potential upset victories.
Acquiring C9 shares during either price trough positioned fortunate supporters for significant financial success as the tournament progressed. With Cloud9’s stock value peaking at $27.42, the organization nearly tripled its lowest valuation point, generating enormous returns for stakeholders. Following their playoff qualification achievement, the price declined as numerous investors executed profit-taking strategies. Cloud9’s current valuation rests at $18.78, maintaining substantial appreciation compared to most group stage pricing levels. Cloud9 continues demonstrating that strategically-timed investments can transform competitive surprises into financial advantages on Fandex.
Investment Strategy Optimization: Successful Fandex participants often employ similar timing strategies across different gaming ecosystems. Those familiar with comprehensive gaming guides understand that market sentiment often creates buying opportunities during perceived team crises. Understanding these patterns can be as valuable as mastering weapon unlock systems in other competitive titles.
The 2021 World Championship competition schedule continues through October 30, 31, and November 6.
Action Checklist
- Monitor team performance metrics and identify buying opportunities during perceived crises
- Set price alerts for key support levels (like Cloud9’s $10 threshold)
- Diversify investments across multiple teams to mitigate single-matchup risks
- Establish profit-taking targets and stick to predetermined exit strategies
- Analyze historical performance patterns and team adaptability to international competition
No reproduction without permission:Game Guides Online » Despite quarterfinals defeat, Cloud9’s Worlds run was real How Cloud9's unexpected Worlds 2021 run created massive Fandex investment opportunities for savvy esports fans
