Cloud9 eliminated from Americas Minor closed qualifier

Cloud9 are out of the running in the Americas Minor NA closed qualifier after placing last at the tournament following losses to New Identity and The Quest.

As the third-highest-ranked side after NRG and FURIA, Cloud9 (No. 23) had been among the favorites to advance to the Americas Minor from the closed qualifier, which has six spots at the main event on offer.

Their hopes of a top-six placing first came under threat at the hands of New Identity, featuring names such as Skyler "⁠Relyks⁠" Weaver and Will "⁠dazzLe⁠" Loafman, who took down Timothy "⁠autimatic⁠" Ta's side in the upper bracket.

Cloud9 will miss the StarLadder Major

At that point, Cloud9 needed to win three series in a row in the lower bracket to qualify, and they fell at the first hurdle, with The Quest dealing them the last blow with a 2-0 victory in the first round.

That means the North American organization will miss their first Major since the ELEAGUE Major in 2017. Cloud9 had initially been eligible for a spot in Berlin's New Challengers Stage after placing 9th-11th at IEM Katowice, but they conceded their slot due to losing the three-man majority following the departures of Fabien "⁠kioShiMa⁠" Fiey, Robin "⁠flusha⁠" Rönnquist, and Jordan "⁠Zellsis⁠" Montemurro.