Worlds 2021 quarterfinals: Cloud9 vs. Gen.G match ratings
Forgot password
Enter the email address you used when you joined and we'll send you instructions to reset your password.
If you used Apple or Google to create your account, this process will create a password for your existing account.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Reset password instructions sent. If you have an account with us, you will receive an email within a few minutes.
Something went wrong. Try again or contact support if the problem persists.
Cloud9 Worlds 2021
REYKJAVIK, ICELAND – OCTOBER 19: Cloud9 poses at the League of Legends World Championship Quarterfinals Stage Features Day on October 19, 2021 in Reykjavik, Iceland. (Photo by Lance Skundrich/Riot Games)

Worlds 2021 quarterfinals: Cloud9 vs. Gen.G match ratings

Monday's series could spell the end for Western teams at Worlds 2021

Welcome to our Worlds 2021 match ratings, as we enter the final day of quarterfinals with Cloud9 and Gen.G squaring off. Every day, I, your designated guinea pig and critic, will watch all of the world championship games so you don’t have to. I will be here to dish out star ratings for every game and let you know if I recommend the slew of fights that day at Worlds.

Recommended Videos

My rating scale is from 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest) stars. Here’s what each star rating means in layman’s terms:

* = Boring. Utterly skippable and something no one will remember by tomorrow.

** = Watchable. Possibly recommended based on your rooting interests.

*** = Good. Something I’d recommend checking out, even if you’re not a fan of either team.

**** = Must-watch. A game or series that you need to watch if you have any interest in League of Legends.

***** = An all-time classic. This perfect rating is only achievable if a game or match is at the highest level of entertainment, gameplay and will go down in the lexicon as a moment no League of Legends fan will ever forget.

Cloud9 are the only Western team remaining at Worlds 2021, and the North Americans are looking to make their first semifinal appearance since 2018. Whether it’s huffing the hopium or honest analysis (or a bit of both?), C9 look like a slight favorite against Gen.G. Gen.G, meanwhile, could make it three South Korean teams in the Worlds 2021 semifinal and keep Western teams out of the final four for the first time since 2017.

Cloud9 vs. Gen.G Game 1

Game one: **** ½ stars

Cloud9 pick an early-game composition to snowball early. Gen.G pick a scaling strategy. Everything goes wrong for the North Americans in the laning phase, bungling their win condition and putting them on the back foot from the jump.

What should have been a simple close for Gen.G turned sideways when C9’s quick decision-making off of an opening in mid let them grab a big teamfight win to propel the North Americans back into the game.

Alas, Gen.G’s scaling was too much in the end, and the combination of Elder and Baron was unbeatable in their final push into the C9 base and down 1-0 in this Worlds 2021 quarterfinal.

Cloud9 vs. Gen.G Game 2

* star

Gen.G smash C9. That’s it. That’s the review.

Cloud9 vs. Gen.G Game 3

*** stars

For the first time in the series, C9 get out to an early advantage through a clever pair up in the mid lane. They continue to grow their gold advantage through trading turrets for Gen.G’s prioritization on dragons.

Everything came crashing down in the mid-game, though, as C9 couldn’t find the fight to open up Baron to win the game. Instead, the stacking dragons of Gen.G produced a Mountain Drake soul, and superior vision control allowed the duo of Zoe and Lee Sin to douse any hopes of a reverse-sweep.

LCK Autumn is in full effect at Worlds 2021.

Author
Image of Tyler Erzberger
Tyler Erzberger
Tyler Erzberger is entering a decade of covering esports. When not traveling around the world telling stories about people shouting over video games, he’s probably arguing with an anime avatar on Twitter about North American esports.