In the 2023 LCS Spring Playoffs, Cloud9 faced a strong challenge from Golden Guardians during the grand final. Despite a relatively smooth run through the playoffs, winning six out of their first seven individual matches, C9 found themselves in a tighter series than anticipated against the LCS’ sixth seed.
Nevertheless, they claimed the league title—marking back-to-back championships for the franchise. C9 is now the first LCS team since 2019’s Team Liquid to achieve two consecutive LCS titles, earning the organization’s sixth overall LCS trophy.
C9’s win not only secures another domestic title but also positions them for international success, as they lock in North America’s first seed for this year’s Mid-Season Invitational (MSI). Although MSI kicks off on May 2, C9 will have a delayed start, entering directly into the event’s bracket stage thanks to their victory.
Golden Guardians put up an impressive fight in the first two games of the series, securing significant early-game leads and forcing C9 to adopt a defensive stance. They held back-to-back leads of 5,800 gold at 15 minutes in both games. Although C9 only made a comeback in one of those games (game one), their dominance in games three and four was enough to secure the series with a 3-1 result.
Spring Split MVP Berserker played a pivotal role in the final two games, boasting a combined scoreline of 13/0/6.
Implications for NA at MSI 2023
The Mid-Season Invitational this year will host the top two teams from each of the four major pro regions (North America, China, Korea, and EMEA). Although both Golden Guardians and C9 were already confirmed for the tournament, seeding was at stake. An MSI format change divides the event into two stages: play-in and bracket. For major regions (excluding the LEC), the champion proceeds directly to the MSI bracket stage, while the runner-up must compete in the play-ins.
Golden Guardians will be the first NA team to participate internationally this season, joining the MSI play-in stage alongside other major region second seeds (including Korea’s T1) and minor region champions (such as PCS’s PSG Talon).
The MSI play-in stage begins in London, United Kingdom, on May 2, with the LCS resuming its domestic schedule on June 1 for the Summer Split.
