Cloud9 White triumphed over CLG Red in the Game Changers Grand Finals on Sunday as Melanie “meL” Capone capped off an undefeated tournament run with an MVP performance on Killjoy.
Cloud9 White saw little opposition through the group stage and upper bracket and were the only team at the event to execute a flawless, 13-0 map victory during their first match. Moon Raccoons Black were the only team to push back on Cloud9 until the finals, forcing overtime on the first map of the series and taking the second map to the maximum of twenty-three rounds.
Meanwhile, CLG Red battled through TSM, Dignitas and eventually Moon Raccoons, who knocked them into the lower bracket in the first place, to make it to the Grand Final.
CLG Red push Cloud9 through forty-one rounds
The first map of the best-of-five was on Icebox, and it proved to be the most interesting of the series. Both teams went with a single-duelist composition, but Cloud9 prevailed by outpacing CLG Red after a close, 7-5 half.
Capone shined for Cloud9 once again with her 29/19 performance on Killjoy. She attributed the victory to Cloud9’s ability to stay calm when facing a tough opponent..
“We welcome the challenge and are glad it was a closer game,” Capone said. “By the end of it, when it’s close, like 10-10, I don’t think we crack under pressure.”Instead, CLG Red seemed to crumble, ending the series in almost the opposite way it started. With Haven as the final map, Cloud9 raced to a blazing 10-2 lead at the half. Having thoroughly demoralized their opponents, Cloud9 closed the map out 13-4. They finished out the Game Changers event without losing a single map to any team and will compete in the next Valorant Challengers Open Qualifier against the best teams in North America.
Published: Mar 28, 2021 07:40 pm