C9 CEO expresses disappointment over NA performance at Worlds: "Cloud9 are part of the problem"

North America's representatives at Worlds 2020 have once again left fans disappointed, as none of the LCS teams managed to qualify for the knockout stage. What’s more, NA has broken some records this time around, as TSM managed to write history by becoming the only first seed ever that ended with a 0-6 record.

Jack Etienne claims the issues with NA run deep. (Picture: Cloud9)

As expected, the poor results once again ignited the discussion about LCS teams’ structures and goals. One of the bigger ones began after Cloud9’s founder, Jack Etienne, shared his opinion on Twitter. 

I'm incredibly disappointed by the results of our region so far at #Worlds2020. All of our teams need to reevaluate how we operate as this is not acceptable. Our talent development, recruitment, and training strategies need to be reviewed and improved for positive change.

— Jack Etienne (@JackEtienne) October 10, 2020

Immediately after, voices of support for such an approach rose up, which stirred up a discussion about what to exactly change in North America’s organization’s structure. One of the League’s casters, Nick “LS” De Cesare, said that one of the biggest issues are people who are behind the reviewing of LCS’ organizations. In his eyes, those names are the ones that have little or no experience and allowed the region to reach this nadir.

The issue is the people who are going to be in charge of reviewing them are going to be people with no experience or even worse the very same people in titled positions who allowed it to become such a way in the first place.

— LS (@LSXYZ9) October 10, 2020

Also another ridiculous assertion too would be even if ppl have "experience"it says literally nothing about how competent they are, only that they have experience. Properly executed litmus tests by nonaffiliated individuals on these things are integral to establishing foundations

— LS (@LSXYZ9) October 10, 2020

The list of excuses for NA is long and it is being constantly updated. Bad solo queue routine, high ping on American servers, inappropriate habits are one of the most popular ones.

• Read more: TSM go winless at Worlds in embarrassing exit for them and North America 

For a long time, North America’s problem has been spending loads of money for veteran players, big names, who were long past their prime. Experts have criticized such an approach and suggested investing in local, American talent, such as Team Liquid’s Edward “Tactical” Ra. You needn’t wait long for such jokes to come up in the Twitter discussion. 

*spend more money to import more retired players

— saintvicious (@LolStvicious) October 10, 2020

There were also some that appreciated Liquid’s efforts. The four-time LCS champions went 3-3 in group A, almost not making it out.

TL seemed to do quite well so not sure if you need to reevaluate and improve everything.

I do have a question. Are you going to let the community in on those changes or will it all be behind closed doors?

Would be cool to get a look into the changes and see the effect

— Wickd (@Wickdlol) October 10, 2020

Last but not least, some people pointed out that Etienne’s organization, Cloud9, didn’t even make it to this year’s Worlds the first time in the team’s history.

• Read more: Seraphine will arrive on October 13 on League's PBE boasting an amazing Ultimate skin

C9’s failure definitely shook the LoL scene, as the squad had dominated the 2020 Spring Split, and made it out of World’s groups four times in the past. In the end, Jack acknowledges that his team is a part of the problem as well. 

I'm fully aware that C9 is part of the problem and I'm not claiming otherwise.

— Jack Etienne (@JackEtienne) October 10, 2020

As of now, no specific actions have been foreshadowed. Although, if North America wants to have a better showing next year, some fundamentals must be changed.