Cloud9 vs FURIA VCT Americas: Cloud9 secures the win over a fumbling FURIA

The VCT Americas Super Week comes to a close today, but not before delivering us one more banger of a match in the form of Cloud9 vs Furia. And you can keep up with all of the action right here.

Both teams come into this match off the back of a very strong start to the season. And both currently sit at 3 - 1 in the standings, with the winner moving firmly into second place. With both teams in a good run of form, this is a match that is sure to provide plenty of thrills.

Cloud9 have had a much stronger start to the season than many had anticipated. Especially as their disappointing performance at LOCK//IN prompted them to release star players "Yay" and "Vanity right before the roster lock deadline. Yet they have already made quick work of their North American rivals thus far in the season, with their most recent match ending in a 2 - 1 win against NRG, and look like serious contenders to take one of the spots to Masters Tokyo. With their recent pickups in Runi and Jakee already paying off for the boys in blue. And though things didn't go their way the last time they faced off against a Brazilian team, their performances across the last four weeks of play certainly put them as favorites this time out.

FURIA were a team expected to be a contender for a playoff spot at the start of the season and certainly look on track to do so as we reach the halfway point. They got pushed the full distance in their 2 - 1 win over Evil Geniuses earlier in the week, but have looked like fairly competent competitors nonetheless. And a win against this red-hot Cloud9 team would certainly heighten their prospects of claiming a spot at Masters this season.

The match gets underway with a trip to Ascent curtesy of FURIA, with both sides opting to use slightly different team compositions. With Cloud9 deciding to stick with their double controller compisition, with Runi on Viper, and FURIA going for double initiator.

FURIA takes the opening pistol round as well as their anti-eco to kickstart their offensive half. Cloud9 answers back with a round win of their own but the Brazilians maintan the early lead at 3 - 1. The NA side manage to take the lead following some aggressive plays from Leaf and Zellsis' Killjoy utility. FURIA pulls level with them for a brief moment, but a blunder off of qck's Lockdown enables Cloud9 to retake the lead. And they continue to shut out their opponents with their stellar defense. Enabling them to take an 8 - 4 lead into halftime.

Cloud9 takes the second pistol round of Ascent off of an interesting play from Leaf to begin their attack half. And it looked as though they might be pulling away from their opponents as they reach the double digit mark. But a series of clutch moments from dgzin and mwzera provide FURIA a solid enough foundation on their defense to keep things close at 10 - 8 on their map pick. Prompting Cloud9 to use their second timeout of the game. And that pause in play proves to be a difference maker as Cloud9 come swinging out of the gate once more to brush past FURIA's defensive setups and steal Ascent away from them 13 - 8. Giving themselves a well-deserved 1 - 0 lead in the series.

Cloud9 brings us to Fracture for Map 2 of the series following their win on Ascent. Both teams opt to use somewhat standard compositions as FURIA looks to bounce back from a scrappy showing on their map pick.

FURIA take the opening pistol round on Fracture. And they begin to show signs of improvement from Map 1 as they start to cobble together an early lead. Cloud9 manage to get a couple of round wins of their own, but FURIA continues to hold the advantage on their attack. The Brazilians continue to make quick work of their opponent's defense as the lead stretches to 6 - 3. But some last ditch heroics from Leaf coupled with a late blunder from dgzin enables C9 to tie the map up at 6 - 6 going into halftime.

Cloud9 survive a close encounter in the second pistol round to give them their first lead of the map thus far. And they continue to build off of their momentum from the end of the first half as the lead stretches to 10 - 6. Things look to have spiraled out of FURIA's control who look like a very different side from the one that made life difficult for C9 in the first half. They manage to disrupt their opponent's 8 round win-streak with an eco round. But the situation remains bleak for FURIA. Cloud9 hits match point at 12 - 8 curtesy of a stylish play from Zellsis. And despite FURIA's best efforts, they fail to find the extra gear needed to pull off an unlikely comeback. Leaving Cloud9 to walkaway with a 13 - 9 win on Fracture and claim a much deserved 2 - 0 victory.

It is a new era for the VALORANT Champions Tour as we get set for the first season of Franchising. The VCT season will see 30 teams split into three region-based leagues of 10 teams, competing for the chance to secure a spot at both Masters Tokyo in June and Champions 2023 in August. Fans who wish to watch the Cloud9 vs LOUD match in the 2023 Americas League may do so by heading to the VCT Americas Twitch and Youtube Channels.

You can stay up to date with all of the action in the Pacific League by heading to our VALORANT Americas hub.

Stay tuned to esports.gg for more esports news and VALORANT coverage throughout the VCT 2023 Season.