Cloud9 are heading to South Korea to prepare for the League of Legends World Championships, sources close to the decision have confirmed to the Daily Dot.
The news comes just hours after their qualification for the World Championships after vanquishing Team Curse three games to zero.
The move offers several benefits for Cloud9. South Korea’s dominance in esports is well known, and League of Legends is no exception. With highly skilled players, a knack for strategic play, and a disciplined practice schedule and lifestyle, South Korean teams are seen as the clear favorites headed into the World Championships
While League of Legends is played online, it’s almost impossible for American teams to play the best in Korea thanks to high lag. Practicing locally in Korea allows teams to compete against the world’s best on equal footing.
Cloud9 is the fifth team confirmed for a Korean bootcamp this year and the second from North America. The first team from the region, Counter Logic Gaming, was eliminated from the North American qualifier tournament on Aug. 29. The other three non-Korean teams to make the pilgrimage include European qualifiers SK Gaming, Fnatic, and Alliance.
While CLG failed to translate a trip to Korea into a World Championships spot, Cloud9 is looking to return from the esports promised land with some heavy ammunition. Of course, whether they will benefit from the practice, or simply return humbled by Korean powerhouses, remains to be seen.
