Team Liquid vs Cloud9: Predictions for the LCS Summer Playoffs

Naerlyn Published September 24, 2026

The winner’s final of the LCS Summer Playoffs will feature Team Liquid and Cloud9. On September 27, at 10pm CEST / 4pm EST, TLAW and C9 will battle to claim the first spot in the LCS Summer final. While TLAW’s presence here was expected, nobody thought C9 would come out on top when they faced LYON. The markets still have Team Liquid as the favorite.

Team Liquid vs Cloud9 prediction market

Market-implied chances courtesy of Polymarket on September 24, 2am CEST, with a volume of $373.  

The prediction market for TLAW vs C9. Image credit: Polymarket

Why the market favors Team Liquid

No matter what happens now, C9 has already made the event interesting. This upper final was supposed to be between LYON and Team Liquid, the two clear best teams in the LCS, and the initial predictions have already been cast aside. Additionally, Cloud9 hadn’t made it to an international since 2023 and they’ve broken that curse.

Now, they’re facing a challenge of similar proportions as when they went up against LYON. While LYON is admittedly better than them, TLAW is the undisputed second best team in North America.

A great part of C9’s win last week was due to their opponent vastly underperforming. LYON made a number of uncharacteristic mistakes. The areas that are supposed to be their strengths, such as picking fights strategically and not engaging into bad situations, were entirely missing and directly caused their demise.

On the plus side for Cloud9, they did their homework and also prepared well for LYON, which played another part in their victory. Team Liquid has vastly different strengths, and time will tell if their preparation will allow them to adapt for them too.

TLAW has an outstanding mid laner in Lim “Quid” Hyeon-seung. Quid excels at melee mid laners, and there’s too many to ban out – especially with the release of Locke adding to the problem. Beyond them, he’s also just as proficient on the other picks.

Then, Team Liquid has an aggressive, playmaking jungler with Brandon Joel “Josedeodo” Villegas. Opposed to LYON’s jungler, he relies on his hands much more and is known for his Lee Sin. Between these two and the form that TLAW’s support displayed against FlyQuest, Cloud9 needs to repel an onslaught that won’t let them breathe the way LYON did.

Cloud9 hasn’t reached the LCS final since 2023. Image credit: Reece Martinez / Riot Games

Our prediction

Prediction: Team Liquid to win

Cloud9 surprised once, but they likely won’t manage it again. Against LYON, they won through the lanes, fell back in teamfights, and caught up again through poor decisions. TLAW will give them much less early game leeway while still being able to out-teamfight them. Additionally, Team Liquid should have an edge in mechanics all around the map.

Let us know your predictions on our forums.

Featured image credit: Reece Martinez / Riot Games

Related to: Upper bracket final: C9 vs TL

Team Liquid

Cloud9 LCS Summer 2026 Playoffs