The battle for first place is tight in the 2022 LCS Spring Split, and this match between Team Liquid and Cloud9 might settle a few things.
To close out the sixth week of the split, the two top teams will face off for the second time this split. The squads are currently tied at the top of the standings with 9-2 records, but only one of them will remain at the top after this match. Liquid already beat C9 once earlier this split, but since then things have started to turn around for C9.
It will be C9 who enters this match with the most momentum, as the squad is currently rocking a six-game winning streak. Liquid is also in great shape with four wins in a row, making this match a highly anticipated one that could turn out in favor of both teams.
A match like this will always be about the daily shape of the players and who gets the best champions in the draft. Liquid will be the obvious favorite in part because of its LCS Lock In trophy, but it’s only a slight edge.
Fudge set to challenge veteran Bjergsen in the mid lane
In a match like this, it’s hard to pick out an area of the map that will be the most decisive. Both teams have so much individual skill that every role could turn out essential in this brawl.
With that said, a safe choice to keep an extra eye on will be the mid lane. It’s a lane where one of the LCS’ greatest players, Søren “Bjergsen” Bjerg, will face off against relative newcomer Ibrahim “Fudge” Allami.
Even though Fudge has only played the mid role for a few months, the Australian talent is already showing great promise. Last year Fudge got to show how he can carry from the top lane, and now that he is playing a real carry role, it’s starting to benefit his team.
Fudge has played a big role in many of C9’s wins so far, already showcasing a deep champion pool with games on Corki, Ryze, Ahri, Orianna, and others. It’s very important to have a diverse champion pool in a match like this, especially when going up against a veteran like Bjergsen who has always been known to play a lot of different champions.
Playing against Bjergsen will be a great challenge as the Danish veteran is already starting to get back into his old shape. So far this split, it hasn’t been necessary for Bjergsen to be the primary carry. Instead he is a stable player in the mid lane that can call the shots.
This will likely also be the case against C9, giving Fudge a chance to look for an edge in the mid lane. Bjergsen has often sustained his own lane this split and has done it well, but if C9 can punish him in lane then it might be the key to victory. It will be hard for C9 to match the players on Liquid in general, so they will have to show some aggression to avoid Liquid dictating the pace.
Team Liquid vs. Cloud9 rosters
Team Liquid roster:
- Top – Gabriël “Bwipo” Rau
- Jungle – Lucas “Santorin” Larsen
- Mid – Søren “Bjergsen” Bjerg
- Bot – Steven “Hans Sama” Liv
- Support – Jo “CoreJJ” Yong-in
Cloud9 roster:
- Top – Park “Summit” Woo-tae
- Jungle – Robert “Blaber” Huang
- Mid – Ibrahim “Fudge” Allami
- Bot – Kim “Berserker” Min-cheol
- Support – Jonas “Isles” Rosario
Close odds between Team Liquid and Cloud9 in the LCS
The matchup between Liquid and C9 is without a doubt the closest that the LCS has to offer this split. They’re the two teams that everyone expects to fight for the trophy in the end, leaving fans with a banger when they face off again this weekend. On the betting side of things, this also opens for an opportunity to gain some real profit based on whoever wins the match.
The bookmakers currently state that this match will be very even, leaving the betters with a high risk and high reward situation. Based on the teams throughout the whole season and their rosters, we predict that the best pick for this match is on Liquid. The team has been very consistent throughout 2022 and has enough experience to step up to their best when it really matters.
Going with Liquid in this match grants odds of 1.78 while a win for Cloud9 will be at odds of 1.92. Even though C9 gives a little higher odds, we don’t think it’s enough to take the risk against a well-rounded squad like Liquid.
The match for first place between Team Liquid and Cloud9 in the LCS will kick off on Sunday, March 13.
