Cloud9 Press Conference: "I think this is where we're going to win it"
After Cloud9 secured a dominant 2-0 win over G2 in their quarter-final, they sat down for a press conference where questions from various journalists were asked to them. Here are the answers from that session.
This is the first time you've made semi-finals, and the first for C9. How's it like doing it on home soil and make it this far.
tarik: I think it's a big deal that we're on home soil, it makes it so much more important for us that we're here in the States and we have so many Cloud9 fans here. I saw in the crowd like, 80% were wearing Cloud9 blue & white jerseys. I think it's so awesome to see so many supporters and that I think if we win it here it'll mean a lot more to us because it's home soil. I think this is where we're going to win it and I think our odds are much better here.
Does it feel like you guys are continuing the legacy of n0thing and shroud?
Skadoodle: I don't really have much to say on that. I feel that this is a new era of C9 that we're pushing through.
On Overpass you, especially Stewie2K, had a very aggressive AWP play, going in for a pick before returning the AWP to Ska. Were you trying to go in and make a play or were you trying to offset the balance of the other team while you set up your CT side.
Stewie2K: It's sort of just based off spawns and who's feeling it. I think anyone on our team can take the AWP at any time, even RUSH who doesn't AWP a lot but is a good AWP'er. A lot of the times I like to take the AWP just to try and get the first pick, I feel like it's really easy to get especially on Overpass. When you're 4v5 as a T it's really hard to play Overpass, which is one of the main reasons why.
Skadoodle: If you have that front spawn on Overpass, sometimes we toss up the AWP. It's a common thing, we just use the spawns to our advantage to gain an opening to the round.
You've mentioned multiple times being the most successful Cloud9 team in terms of a Major, what have you guys done in the last couple of months to advance your game to get to this point.
RUSH: We just practice a lot. It's all about the time you put into the game honestly, the amount of time you play together or against top European teams, whether through bootcamping or not. I think playing against SK is pretty big as well if we're in NA, playing five or so maps against them makes us better as well. Putting a lot of time in helps a lot too.
Did you expect G2 to pick Cache instead of Overpass, due to the fact you played Cache in the New Legends Stage against them?
valens: Yeah, I think they overthought the vetos for sure, the only map they have beaten us on recently has been Cache. Overpass was always going to be a toss up and I think they just overthought it.
When you realised you needed to make a change in the team, what was it that you saw in tarik and RUSH, and did you think that success and meshing this team together would come this quickly?
valens: We were pleasantly surprised, we didn't initally pick up tarik to be an IGL, but we quickly realised he had the demeanour and characteristics to be a good leader so we had to help him being like "hey, this is how we like to play" and get him to call in what he's comfortable with and what we were comfortable to play. That was the biggest thing. We knew what we were getting with RUSH and he has exceeded expectations, try 1v1'ing him and see how it feels.
RUSH: Try it
Going into the game against G2, were you guys planning on playing that aggressive over two maps.
tarik: Setting the pace for the game is important. I know that when we play aggressive we play our best and when we get aggressive we can mix it up, play passive after. I think our aggressive playstyle suits us the most, so we try to use that to our advantage. We know how to play passive when necessary, I think it just comes down to keeping a good balance between the two.
RUSH: I also think that in the previous interviews we've stated that we got in our own heads in the first match against G2, and we counter-stratted them a lot which bit us in the ass, so in this match we focused on our own game and playing individually strong in their face, which worked.
