LoL: Loki Leaves Cloud9 to Return to South Korea
On Tuesday, Cloud9 announced the departure of their 20-year-old South Korean midlaner Lee "Loki" Sang-min, whose contract was originally valid until 2027. Loki chose to return to Seoul to be closer to his family, a decision the organization fully supported, releasing him from his obligations.
Loki’s Journey with Cloud9
During his year in Cloud9’s LTA North roster, Loki became a key part of the lineup. In Split 1, the team reached the semifinals of the cross-conference league but was eliminated 2–1 by Team Liquid, who went on to become the champions.
In Split 2, Cloud9 made an impressive run to the finals, narrowly losing 3–2 to FlyQuest. Despite strong performances, their second-place finish did not earn them a spot at the Mid-Season Invitational. Their only international showing took place at the Esports World Cup in Riyadh, where they were defeated by both FLY and FURIA after a brief one-day travel period.
Challenging Summer Split
Cloud9 opened the Summer Split strongly, finishing first in the Pick and Play Phase. However, they struggled in the subsequent playoff rounds: losing first to Shopify Rebellion, winning against Disguised, then falling to 100 Thieves. Each best-of-five series ended in a tight 3–2 score, underscoring how close Cloud9 came in every match yet still fell short of their goals.
"Loki made the necessary and deeply personal decision to return to Seoul to be close to his family, a choice the organization respects."
Author’s Summary
Loki’s departure from Cloud9 reflects both his commitment to family and the end of a season filled with narrow defeats and missed opportunities for the North American roster.