Cloud9 withdraw from ESL Pro League, SAW invited as replacement

15-4-2024 12:53

With their roster only four-strong, Cloud9 have withdrawn from ESL's event.

SAW's stock has risen sharply over the early months of 2024

ESL has announced that Cloud9 have withdrawn from ESL Pro League Season 19, set to take place April 23-May 12, and will be replaced by SAW. Spirit were first in line to replace Cloud9, according to a senior VP at ESL FACEIT Group, but turned down the invite.

According to ESL's replacement rules, the tournament will not be re-seeded as the replacement occurred within 10 days of the tournament starting.

The news comes in the wake of Denis "⁠electroNic⁠" Sharipov's departure from Cloud9 to join Virtus.pro, which left Cloud9 with a gap in their roster that would have needed filling quickly ahead of the tournament.

Virtus.pro sign electroNic

SAW, the team invited to replace Cloud9, have been on the rise in recent months. The Portuguese squad impressed with their reverse-sweep at the Europe RMR to qualify for PGL Major Copenhagen, qualified for BLAST Spring Final with a near-flawless run through Spring Showdown, and topped their group in ESL Challenger League 47 with a 5-0 series record. This has seen the team rise to their peak ranking of No. 16 in the world.

Presumably SAW were invited to Pro League as a result of their place in the ESL world ranking. Cloud9 originally received their Pro League spot on the basis of their ESL ranking, and SAW were the highest-ranked team besides Cloud9 and Spirit that did not have an invite.

lmao

2024-04-15 12:54

5 replies

disband?

2024-04-15 13:04

4 replies

cant they use standin or something?

2024-04-15 13:40

2 replies

thats why im thinking disband

2024-04-15 13:41

1 reply

Could be on the cards. I imagine it's not a cheap roster to bankroll. C9 wanted a trophy winning team. They only won IEM Dallas 2022 (very soon after they purchased the gambit roster). They've really struggled to find form since losing Inters tbh. Whole dynamic has shifted from the gambit roster and the GM and Groove can't seem to get any consistent form out of this roster, which is full of talent. Hopefully the C9 management will try and fix it rather than bin it.

2024-04-15 17:36

I’d be so pissed if they disband leaving so many rosterable players floating in limbo like wtf.

2024-04-16 19:49

lol why not spirit, make an exception pls

2024-04-15 12:57

31 replies

read the article

2024-04-15 12:55

2024-04-15 16:39

8 replies

yes ik but dumb pls make an exception

2024-04-15 12:56

7 replies

They turned down the invite, what do you mean make an exception

what reason could be behind this? why would they? i want to see donk, every tournament without him feels numb to me. no excitement, boredom..

2024-04-16 14:15

getting visas on that short notice is next to impossible especially since their a russian team

2024-04-24 22:03

it is dumb plz dont ever, regards

2024-04-15 13:10

Exception for what?

2024-04-15 20:10

he didnt read the article did he? xD

2024-04-16 01:17

"no I did but make an exception!!!" "donk!"

Read the article

#20

Spirit scared to play after choking Major to FaZe (/j)

2024-04-15 12:58

9 replies

so true

Yeah, after they got whooped by Faze they are now too scared to show up. Wise choice.

2024-04-15 13:06

I think it's more of visa issues, you can't be Russian and accept short-notice tournaments in EU. Look at 9pandas case

2024-04-15 13:11

exactly, ruined chance to get revenge disappointing to see

2024-04-15 13:12

Yeah, it legit looks like they're avoiding events with faze in them

2024-04-15 14:48

So all of them? FaZe have accepted invites for pretty much everything

2024-04-15 15:52

well here they're a partner team, they HAVE to play.

2024-04-15 16:21

Gotta keep donk's rating high! More maps = bigger chance for it to go down

2024-04-15 14:58

2024-04-16 11:12

Because they already qualified for IEM Cologne 2024 so no need to play an extra tournament with so many games, they also going to play at IEM Dallas which is 2 weeks after epl. They don't wanna exhaust their players probably and prepare for Dallas and Cologne

2024-04-15 18:10

also good luck getting visas with 8 days notice as a russian

2024-04-24 22:04

learn to read idiot.

2024-04-15 21:25

learn to read zoomer

2024-04-15 21:31

'spirit turned down the invite' donk said 'too easy.'

2024-04-16 01:05

true…

2024-04-16 07:04

BECAUSE SPIRIT ARE SCARED TO PLAY IN THE TOURNAMENT AND ARENT GOOD ENOUGH, explained?

2024-04-16 17:24

ok man

2024-04-16 17:32

Better give that spot to Spirit man

6 replies

#13

You guys do not read at all - "Spirit were first in line to replace Cloud9, according to a senior VP at ESL FACEIT Group, but turned down the invite."

spirit turned down the invite

3 replies

Wow , unexpected.

as unexpected as expecting that one reads the article before commentating.

2024-04-15 13:13

it is crazy how many people just won’t read the article

2024-04-15 14:56

still not spirit?

W SAW

Wheres monesy bro

In g2 and he will stay there

2024-04-15 14:14

Vp get an upgrade and remove opponent from their epl group Jame masterclass as always

WHY SAW ???

Read the freaking article. Spirit turned down the invite. Next in the ranking who wasn't in tournament yet was Saw.

Let's gooooo Ewjerkzzz

azzorrodozedoce better

They are both equal good and different positions

2024-04-15 14:01

Why not Spirit?

flag + flair + read article

2024-04-15 13:39

Spirit frauds and c9 wtf

I won't last another month without donk, please, any org that is confirmed sell their spot to Spirit :'(

Read the article...

2024-04-15 13:14

"Spirit were first in line to replace Cloud9, according to a senior VP at ESL FACEIT Group, but turned down the invite."

Should go to Aurora the #1 upcoming team #DreamAurora

flair + meds

2024-04-15 15:59

Huh, so that move really happened on very short notice, if C9 doesn't even have a stand-in ready before the roster lock

0/8

2024-04-15 13:03

Cry

2024-04-15 12:59

SPIRIT DECLINED INVITE

damn, c9 is falling apart

Spirit W

Stronger team than c9

Spirit is playing the betboom turnement that goes on at the same time, Price pool of the betboom is 300k to the winner and the winner of esl pro leauge is 170k. Betboom is one week. Pro leauge is one month. Ez choice

14 replies

They dont tho, EPL ends and then right after 2 days later betboom starts

2024-04-15 13:02

10 replies

Which pretty much is the same since both are lan. If they reached the finals, they would have less than 48 hours to travel and rest for the other tournament with a bigger price pool and probably even some contractual obligations.

2024-04-15 13:07

I mean its doable but fair enough, I thought BetBoom was online for some r eason

2024-04-15 13:08

Betboom Belgrade the name speaks for itself

2024-04-15 13:57

mouz is in both tournaments, I don't think it has anything to do with contracts

2024-04-15 13:38

Mouz is a late invite. Spirit is one of the "founders" and current champion. I'm not saying they're denied to play both. But they probably have other obligations related to their status.

and #240

2024-04-24 22:06

mouz is loosers, they don't win anything

2024-04-15 13:44

So 7/7 s tier playoffs isn't good enough?

2024-04-15 14:20

playoffs is this is not a trophy

2024-04-15 14:22

Maybe, but atleast they get far unlike most other teams

2024-04-15 14:33

start 2 days after other ends is same time lol, you're so smart BB' highest ranking team excluding Spirit is #5, EPL's is #1, very ez choice 4 spirit

2024-04-15 13:47

Spirit could have a potential visa problem in Malta as well, especially considering the low amount of time to get the necessary visas

2024-04-15 14:10

Perhaps. Otherwise #43 is still not completely valid, due EPl has every top team attending (except of c9 and spirit) and is could be relevant for IGS

2024-04-15 14:13

elec did them dirty

2024-04-15 13:00

Damn, so c9 have only 1 qual and 1 tournamnet next 3 months unless they decide to withdraw as well. Dram life and easiest paycheck.

2024-04-15 13:01

At least group A is now a bit more balanced compared to other groups

c9 gonna end up quitting cs again

Today I learned that people cannot read more than two sentences in an article. The future of humanity is truly in trouble.

2024-04-15 13:05

but only for those that are able to read more than two sentences in an article. the others wont even notice they're in trouble, because they have the attention span of an one-day-fly.

2024-04-15 13:20

You really noticed that just today? HLTV is the source of this information since 600 b.c.

2024-04-15 14:41

rip

Spirit scared to play?

Its joever for clown9 time to disband

SPIRIT WHAT DOINK Faze and Spirit in Group A would've been awesome

Is Forze still playing? with an entire benched roster??

if the event page is correct, its going to be tNIR, shalfey, nickelback, SELLTER, and MY GOAT SMOOOOOOYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

2024-04-16 04:48

SMOOOOOOOOOOOOYAAAAAAAAAAA

2024-04-16 09:28

Spirit hahahah

WHOAAA this is a massively good move from VP

Thank you VP! now SAW can play play instead clown9

disband incoming

Lets go sAw!

At this rate bb dacha too

2024-04-15 13:15

lol why'd spirit decline

2024-04-15 13:17

perhaps didn't want to go tired and unprepared and flop. They are about to participate in Rio

2024-04-15 13:23

why did spirit turn down the invite?

2024-04-15 13:18

most likely the timing of epl and the next tournament they are in ( betboom) conflict in such a way that they see their preparation schedule conflicted.

For anyone shitting on Spirit for declining invite: there is a visa regime between Malta (EU) and Russia. Visas are usually made in advance and you can't even get embassy appointment at such a notice (and I'm not sure how Russian living in Serbia can get one). Ofc professional orgs have their own tricks, but still short-notice tournaments are probably out of options.

is this due to the russian attack on ukraine or a problem that was in place before the war?

2024-04-15 14:51

Kind of both. It used to happen but it obviously became worse after the war started

2024-04-15 17:25

thanks for this info. I was surprised when people mentioned visa, at first I thought the visa they got for Blast/major would be enough (since it's all EU)

2024-04-15 20:42

It's not like these visas are permanent. Embassy decides its validity period and how many times a person can enter EU territory. It is usually single-entry for people with short visa background like Donk. And I'm not sure if playing requires specialized visa from tournament host country, as it's essentially work. Still, could be other reasons, participating wasn't on the map till now so they could've probably been on vacations around the World

2024-04-15 22:03

that makes a lot of sense - I often forget that work and travel visas have very different arrangements.

2024-04-15 22:41

Disband soon? Or +flamie ez top 30

2024-04-15 13:22

Spirit declined competing against the best teams to earn a little more money? They could have gotten the visas, as the schedule is known enough time before, so I lost a little bit of respect tbh.

2024-04-15 13:26

Well, epl taking whole month and spirit probably on vacation rn. Also there could be visa issues since their group would start in 9 days.

2024-04-15 13:33

C9 Disband and go NA again xd

2024-04-15 13:28

i hope it's aurora + boombl4

Dog: woof woof Cat: meow Very Smart Mens: Why not Spirit?

2024-04-15 13:32

Actually smart people: read the article

2024-04-15 13:52

that is exactly my point, I just didn't want to write a word that starts with "r" instead of "very smarts mens" because I don't want to get banned :)

2024-04-15 13:56

Replace with SAW instead of any other team HAHAH

2024-04-15 13:35

Something called rankings, you know?

2024-04-15 14:00

Too much t3 teams on a single event

2024-04-15 14:06

Sure, t3 beating C9 and Liquid :)

Just don’t watch, you’re not forced to do so

Thats what everyone should do

2024-04-15 15:09

The amount of people who commented without reading the article is astounding, but what should one expect in internet full of tiktok-generation people.

looool

I understand people wanted to watch Spirit but idg the hate for decline they earned spot in Cologne and can get same money from playing BB with less games It was obvious that they burnt out after playing Kato and Major. their team avg age bellow 20 give them some rest. You will get to see them a lot of times And the fact some people saying Spirit are scared to play vs top teams is mad 💀

2024-04-15 13:37

their team avg age bellow 20 give them some rest LOL have you ever worked?

2024-04-15 14:15

wtf that has to do with me😭 im talking about burn out that can happen after losing under pressure that can easily happen with young player that reach a lot of attention and expectations they have to rest mentally first and physically too instead of trying attend and win every event

I agree my point was you shouldn‘t use their age as an „excuse“. It‘s normal for people being young and work hard..

2024-04-15 14:53

ye but i think youngsters are more related to psychological stability question

2024-04-15 15:06

Depends on personality but likely yes

C9 should be disband

the brain of the kids in this topic got fucked hard by tiktok, attention span is literally non existent.

2024-04-15 13:45

Lmao Plus wasted spot

Spirit fans in tears that they rejected invite lol

Some guys just dont read the article at all

2024-04-15 14:03

well he read it at least for sure

2024-04-15 14:08

Yes, i was refering to the guys that are saying why not spirit

2024-04-15 14:09

+1, more sensible question'd be "why reject?" and only true fans know they are about to participate in Rio and in Belgrade right after

2024-04-15 14:42

2024-04-15 16:27

Lets gooooooooo

Whats happening with Forze slot? Do they have any roster, or will they get replaced?

2024-04-15 14:02

snakelectronic???

W clown9

2024-04-15 14:34

Damn, C9 should just plug in an awper and give it a go lol

2024-04-15 14:36

cool for saw

2024-04-15 14:39

Wtf? Spirit better

2024-04-15 14:40

read full article uneducated kid

2024-04-15 15:26

lol

two faced toledo

2024-04-15 14:50

good for saw

2024-04-15 15:11

why would they invite saw and not paiN. SAW is onliners and sucks on LAN, nothing fun to watch. pain 10 times better than these onlinrrs

2024-04-15 15:31

2024-04-15 16:28

I will help you my friend, because it looks like you can write but not read. From the article: “and SAW were the highest-ranked team besides Cloud9 and Spirit that did not have an invite.”

2024-04-15 16:41

i watch hltv ranking. and saw is under pain not above :). also all top20 teams are better than saw

2024-04-15 17:59

c'mon my love... you know its ESL ranking: pro.eslgaming.com/worldranking/csgo/rank.. #17 - SAW #20 - paiN Gaming

2024-04-15 19:48

missed opportunity, they couldve taken donk or s1mple as a stand-in, for teh lulz

2024-04-15 15:33

Invite Spirit ffs.

2024-04-15 15:37

Read the Fkin article They turned down the invite

2024-04-15 16:06

Imagine reading anything besides title.

2024-04-15 17:32

read the article ffs

2024-04-15 16:07

Next Cloud9 move: -Hobbit +m0NESY +donk

2024-04-15 15:38

why would not spirit?

2024-04-15 15:44

take me to c9 so u dont need to withdraw xD

2024-04-15 16:09

Disband inc

2024-04-15 16:22

Why did spirit decline 🤨🤨🤨 I feel like they would be easy tier 1 but every time they get the chance to prove themselves they just vanish I know they won Katowice but still, they keep missing out on those t1 events

2024-04-15 16:26

Visas issues

2024-04-15 19:32

bro you can still play it, just get a substitute?

2024-04-15 16:38

i'm thinking they are gonna expand, i say they give their current core to 1win or something, since they made a return.

2024-04-15 16:56

20000 IQ MOVE C9 core to 1win Spirit to C9 monesy to C9 Sh0ro to G2 Flusha to Eyeballerz

2024-04-15 17:02

flusha? do i know you?

2024-04-16 04:32

i dont think we are acquianted no

2024-04-16 17:29

ok then...

2024-04-16 18:06

degster in c9 confirm

2024-04-15 17:21

ahahahahahhaha Colossus v2

2024-04-15 18:27

rip Spirit

2024-04-15 19:00

ofc they decline, in such a short term we would had another half spirit playing because of visas

2024-04-15 19:23

Anybody knows how long is m0NESY contract with g2?maybe this is the reason that they won't play fpl to wait for m0NESY

2024-04-15 19:38

disband finally

2024-04-15 19:42

Spirit turning an EPL invite down is madness. What utter frauds, really hope they never win a major now.

2024-04-15 21:50

EPL isnt that prestigious of a tournament just a long ass grind for little reward. Spirit are also in dire need to reinvent themselves a little and change up how they play. Can do more with their time than play a long ass event with little prize money and prestige.

2024-04-16 01:08