Regardless of having received Rookie of the 12 months within the LTA (now LCS) 2025 Season, Cloud9 mid laner Lee “Loki” Sang-min has determined to go away the LCS after only one yr with the workforce.
The LCS is heading into some of the turbulent off-seasons ever. FlyQuest is sort of definitely making roster modifications, Group Liquid is already rebuilding their roster, 100 Thieves has left completely regardless of a incredible Worlds 2025 run, nothing’s identified about Sentinels’ roster but, and there are certain to be modifications on different groups.
Nevertheless, if one factor was sure, it was probably that Cloud9 would attempt to maintain on to Loki. He managed to get Rookie of the 12 months regardless of C9 having a subpar yr general.
Although it’s been made clear he’s leaving for private causes and that it was his alternative to go away the workforce, this resolution throws an enormous wrench in an already chaotic low season.
Loki Leaving Cloud9 Regardless of Spectacular Rookie 12 months
Importing gamers from South Korea could be a hit-or-miss endeavor. Some gamers like Jo ‘CoreJJ’ Yong-in and Jeong ‘Influence’ Eon-young have had lengthy and profitable careers in North America, with them adapting properly to life in LA and selecting up English as time went on.
Nevertheless, many different import gamers solely final a break up or two. Generally issues simply don’t work out, whether or not it’s a difficulty with communication or the participant not having the ability to adapt to dwelling in a brand new nation.
In Loki’s case, it was the latter.
“Loki has made the required and deeply private resolution to stay in Seoul to be near his household,” Cloud9 stated in an announcement. “We respect his alternative fully and are totally supporting him as he makes this transition. Household comes first.”
Who Will Substitute Loki on Cloud9?
Loki performed properly in North America, however that doesn’t precisely assure him a spot on an LCK workforce. It’s onerous to say the place his profession goes from right here. In the meantime, on C9, the mid lane is a difficult function to fill in the mean time. Lim ‘Quid’ Hyeon-seung is already all however locked for Group Liquid, leaving scorching prospects within the function fairly slim.
They may decide to seize somebody like Eain ‘APA’ Stearns in the event that they needed an NA mid laner to attempt to use the import slot in a unique function. Or maybe they dig into the LCK CL expertise pool once more and attempt to discover the following large mid laner.
Both means, this transfer places Cloud9 again available on the market and on the lookout for some of the sought-after roles on the Rift in the mean time. They don’t have lengthy to determine who they’ll be placing in his place.
