by After four impactful years with Cloud9’s League of Legends division, there are rumours of significant changes on the horizon for the team.
Star top laner Ibrahim “Fudge” Allami, a recognizable talent in the league, is reportedly being replaced on C9’s main LCS roster for the 2024 Summer Split.
The 21-year-old might be part of one of two significant moves the team is planning during the mid-season break, which includes a coaching staff overhaul, with former C9 head coach Bok “Reapered” Han-gyu set to replace head coach Alfonso “mithy” Aguirre Rodríguez.
The replacement for Fudge is said to be Dplus KIA’s rising star Park “Thanatos” Seung-gyu, a 19-year-old phenom who has made waves in the Korean Challengers scene, earning two LCK CL Finals MVP awards.
Thanatos has reportedly attracted attention from multiple LCK organizations and even the LEC’s Karmine Corp.
Despite being considered for the top lane position on DK during the previous offseason, the team ultimately decided against multiple rookies in their starting lineup, opting to retain Choi “Lucid” Yong-hyeok, an up-and-coming jungler prospect.
C9’s decision to replace Fudge comes after a disappointing early exit from the LCS playoff race, marking their first absence from the playoffs since the 2022 Summer Split.
Despite Fudge’s multi-year deal with C9, his performance metrics, including the lowest kills and average damage to champions among LCS top laners during the Spring Split, indicate a diminished impact compared to previous years.
The team’s focus has shifted away from Fudge towards players like Joseph “Jojopyun” Pyun and Kim “Berserker” Min-cheol for the 2024 season.
The return of former 100 Thieves head coach Reapered to Cloud9 adds another layer to the team’s restructuring.
Reapered, known for his successful tenure with C9 from 2016 to 2020, during which the team achieved notable success at international events, is set to replace Mithy following C9’s failure to reach the 2024 LCS Spring Finals.
The team’s recent slump, despite high-profile signings like Jojopyun, has prompted a re-evaluation of the coaching staff and roster.
With these changes underway, Cloud9 aims to reclaim its former glory and secure a spot at Worlds 2024 in Europe, signalling a potential resurgence for the organization in the competitive League of Legends scene.
It hurts me to announce that C9 and I have parted ways
While the team failed to meet its expectations, I have nothing but love and respect for the organization and its players.
It's been an exciting journey to be a part of c9 and feel the love and hate y'all bring as fans #c9win— Alfonso 'mithy' (@mithygg) April 4, 2024
