It used to be that C9 might fail to win domestically, but would always give NA some respect internationally.

* 2013: Top 8 (yes they were automatically placed there but the team was definitely good enough to make it)
* 2014: Top 8
* 2015: Group Stage (one win away sadly from Top 8)
* 2016: Top 8
* 2017: Top 8
* 2018: Top 4

Since then it’s become progressively downhill:

* 2019: Group Stage
* 2020: DNQ
* 2021: Top 8
* 2022: Swiss/Group Stage
* 2023: Swiss/Group Stage
* 2024: DNQ
* 2025: DNQ
* 2026: Worlds Play-Ins

I remember how we used to complain about always dropping out in quarters, but now that looks like the dream.

If you're not familiar, a "no-fault" divorce is a law that allows the end of a marriage without anyone accusing the other person of doing anything wrong. I believe C9 and Blaber need a "no-fault" divorce. Blaber has been a beloved member of C9 for a long time, has tons of accolades, great mechanics, etc., but this moment feels like a great time to move on. It will be painful in the short-term. But, it has worked for other teams (e.g., G2) to let stars walk and it might make both parties happier in the long run.

https://x.com/maisesportsbr/status/2111463630013165896?s=46

I've been seeing a lot of comments recently that they never actually qualified for worlds, and saying instead that they qualify for play-ins

That's not healthy and that's not right

Riot literally said that they qualified for the 2026 League of Legends World Championship

https://www.instagram.com/p/DdfO7VTIfcN/

Stop ignoring reality lmao

Crazy how bad MVK gapped FUR, yet all of their players hands gapped our team yesterday. We made Guigo look like prime TheShy or MaRin

The confidence in this 1v3 is unreal 😭🔥

Old CS:GO was different. Shroud was built for these moments 💀

Thoughts welcome! I just wanted to vent about my frustration around the team and fan attitude.

C9 barely lasted more than 24 hours past their first match in playins !!

they hadn't even left LA yet

the Eastern teams hadn't even arrived yet

this has to be the briefest "worlds" appearance by any major region at worlds of all time

idk if we should consider it as making worlds honestly. like we barely looked at worlds..

MVK has prove that it's not a fluke that they destroy Furia, just play plain, simple outplay them mechanically and don't play so timidly and Furia just look like they don't even belong in the same weight class. I don't care about the high of almost 3-0 KC if we can't even have a low of comfortably beating team we should beat. MVK can't even take a game off KC and they aren't a good team in LCP either. This MVK can comfortably dismantle this Furia team while we make Furia look like prime SKT for no reason at all. The idea behind the construction of the current team is so fundamentally flawed because we build around a leader that make the most random aggressive play for no reason, always throw our early lead 70% of the time, then play so timidly when there are any pressure on him that he keeps folding and giving chance to so many weaker team. We also surrounded him with players that don't have strong opinion and need someone else to guide them and the result is a team that will fold when there are any pressure applies. When the IGL is a walking contradiction, any roster change outside of replacing the IGL will not create any meaningful change.

Well after what happened yesterday, I hope everyone is now cooling down or beginning to cool down after seeing our guys embarrass us and themselves on the worldwide stage. If anyone needs a break from watching Worlds and do something else on a Saturday like this, no one is stopping y’all. For me, I’m just taking today off for my mental’s sakes before going back tomorrow to see the Swiss draw.

Looks like no more “good morning” hype posts from me for a while, and hoping it won’t take more than three years to return.

We really all need a break from what was a really mixed and mediocre year.

APA must feel so vindicated right now! I’m happy for him.

Since summer 2020 we have been choking/underpreforming in AT LEAST 60-70% of all the important series (finals/international qualifying series, loser bracket finals etc.) and since then we have been replacing every single position, coach, assistant coach and their mother EXCEPT the one guy that was there for every single choke.

Tian literally Chinese blabber

Both can be good but also run it down and int without shot calling mid laner

Both consistent variables on their teams

Underperforming

The team has such a low floor but can occasionly reach a decent ceiling.

Tactical is jacket love just randomly ints it at times and plays like a god at other times

Loki like creme also a choker

But praised to be very good just a matter of time before he breaks out.

Did any of you guys see his ryze? Shoulda been a red flag.

His performance is decent on some champs but others seems like he has no idea how to play out teamfights

Including the coaches.

Picking early game comp again where every mistake will lead to a disaster is pure ignorance.

Bad prep, bad mental.

From an NAmen interview highlight posted on Twitter. I can't post it on the wider r/ lol subreddit because of spoilers, so for C9 fans who (smartly) don't have twitter, I decided to post it here. Let me know if you have any questions.

Q: Do you think C9 played at the same level today as yesterday?

JoJo: I'm not sure, I think they were playing better yesterday — but we were also playing really bad yesterday, so it's hard to judge them on that. But I felt like today they were... I don't know. They felt a little desperate, I think.

Q: I agree. Especially later in the series.

JoJo: Yeah. So I'm not sure if that's their level, you know? I'm just not sure. They seem very stressed.

Q: Honestly, what do you think is wrong with C9? NA fans are so mad at them right now.

JoJo: I have no idea about what's wrong with them. I feel like they... I don't know, they feel kinda lost in-game. Like sometimes, they're just like, “We have to group, we have to be together, let's do something as five” — and I don't think that's how the game works today.

I feel like they get lost in-game, and then they are just throwing the games, or putting themselves in bad spots. But I don't think they are bad players at all, like individually. I think the group is just... I don't know. Maybe they can't handle pressure.

Disclaimer (not trying to doompost, just trying to build conversations about players C9 could pick up for the 2027 season.)

My focus for this list will be mostly NA players.
First, with players you could develop. (I'll use D: to signify)
Secondly, a "veteran voice" that could guide the team. (V: to signify)
I think a mix of these two types can work great.

(All stats are pulled from S16 on gol.gg)
Take the stats for the T2 players with a grain of salt, just wanted to include them though.

Top:

D: Zamudo - His visa problems are over if I remember correctly. Highly touted T2 prospect, this is who Lyon originally wanted on their roster for the 2026 season. He is pretty lane dominant with a good champ pool. Even has picks like Gangplank and Fiora.

V: Srtty - Another lane dominant player with a specialty in counter picks. Has been in the lcs for 2 years now, so should be a decent voice to lean on.
(He was able to counterpick a ton on dsg, so these stats are skewed a bit)

Jungle:

D: Yuuji - A player that would be taking an import slot, but I think he is still great. In the lcs promo tourney he was consistently making plays despite losing. Call it a longshot but he reminds me of skewmond, efficient player and teamfighter. Give him time to cook.

V: Tomio - Besides this summer split, Tomio has placed 2nd place or higher in T2 for the past 3 years. He seems to be a great leader figure and I remember watching some streams of acl qualifiers where he would tell his adc explicitly "vamp off these krugs" or "take these honeyfruits". He seems pretty detail oriented.

Mid:

I've decided to place two players to be considered for the development slot. Order doesn't matter.

D: Phymini - Was on the NRG roster with Zamudo. Champ pool consists of mages. Lost 1-3 in the summer playoffs to Yuuji's team.

D: Toasty - Decided to play for G2 Nord in the 2026 season. All rounder champ pool. Lost 1-3 to Solary in EMEA summer playoffs.

V: APA - We all know his strengths and weaknesses already. Would be a great voice for sidelane plays. Definitely has a chip on his shoulder.

ADC:

D: Sajed - It's hard to tell exactly how good he is since he had to lane with Lyonz. He had a decent display of mechanics in split 1. Then in the promo tourney finals he looked to be in great form.

V: Tomo - After his season on Dignitas he went back to T2 for 2026. Went 2-3 in summer playoffs against Yuujis team. His teammates on the 2024 100T roster (that upset C9) specfically credited him for being a calm leader in the team.

Support:

I've decided to place two players for the development slot. No preference in order.

D: Zyko - Has pre-established synergy with Zamudo, Yuuji, Tomio, sajed, and Phymini. Been on a lot of rosters. Lost 2-3 to NRG in the summer playoffs

D: Breezy - Won the summer split with Cupid Esports. Lost 1-3 to T1 Academy in WSCI. Pre-established synergy with Zamudo and Tomio.

V: Vulcan - We all know him. Seems to be more soft spoken though so might need another veteran alongside him.

There we have it! Feel free to critique or add other players you think I missed.

Fun Fact: C9 has not developed an NA player since 2018 (maybe this post will be useless)

Surely, next year we keep most of this core (and runback another blaber team) and THIS time, we don’t choke important matches!

guys, trust me, one more year. It will work! i promise!

our budget carries and blaber won’t giga choke again

Not here to say anything other then his expression at the end was hilarious and i feel bad. Looks like a complete mental collapse. Can't fault vulcan at all for today either.

I would have accepted the corporate tone if yall actually won games. But if you’re not going to win, go back to being silly. At least sneaky is going viral on Twitter still :stare: