They say that the only certainties in life are death and taxes. For League Championship Series fans, a Cloud9 regional championship is also on that list. On Saturday, the North American stalwarts will begin their title defense against a surging Curse Gaming. The ride was not as smooth as usual for the tournament favorites, however, as a mid-season slump saw them fall to fifth place before returning to the top on the back of strong team play and strategic planning.
Cloud9’s championship odds would look strong as ever, if it wasn’t for a Curse Gaming team that’s making an impression quickly. The team floundered near the bottom of the standings for 10 out of 11 weeks of competition, before a final push put them in fourth place. With a consistent roster, creative champion selection, and renewed strength from top-laner Diego “Quas” Ruiz, Curse looks to knock Cloud9 off their throne, and qualify for the World Championships in the process.
But is Curse’s recent strength enough to supplant the perennial champions? Here’s what the stats have to say.
Infographics by LoLStats
