Cloud9 Acquires BLAST Premier Membership for 2024 Season, Taking Over Slot from Evil Geniuses
Cloud9 is set to join the BLAST Premier as a Member Team for the 2024 season after successfully securing the slot previously held by Evil Geniuses. The acquisition followed a competitive bidding process.
Founded in 2013 and based in Los Angeles, Cloud9 is currently ranked 11th globally in Counter-Strike. With a longstanding presence in the scene dating back to 2014, the organization notably achieved an underdog victory at ELEAGUE Boston 2018 and participated regularly in BLAST Pro Series events from 2017 to 2019. Re-entering the scene in 2022, Cloud9's new Counter-Strike roster has made significant strides in the North American scene, including successes at IEM Rio, IEM Dallas, and BLAST Premier Fall Final Copenhagen.
The decision to sell the Member Team slot by Evil Geniuses, who had been part of BLAST Premier since its inception in February 2020, prompted a competitive bidding process. Cloud9 emerged as the successful bidder, marking their official entry into the BLAST Premier for the 2024 season.
Andrew Haworth, Programme Director for BLAST Premier, expressed satisfaction at adding Cloud9 to the roster for the 2024 season in a press release by BLAST.
- We are delighted to add Cloud9 to our stable of world-leading esports organizations for the 2024 BLAST Premier season in what is shaping up to be an exciting year with arena events set for London and Copenhagen. Cloud9 has an illustrious history in Counter-Strike and will bring a lot to the tournaments with their addition for the upcoming season. We thank Evil Geniuses for their support and participation over the last three years and wish them all the best in the future. The competitive bidding process undertaken further highlights the growth and development BLAST Premier has enjoyed year-on-on-year
Jack Etienne, Co-Founder and CEO of Cloud9 conveyed his excitement about Cloud9's participation in BLAST Premier, highlighting the organization's commitment to excellence and competitiveness on a global stage. He looks forward to showcasing the skills and determination of Cloud9's players during their CS2 journey with BLAST Premier.
- I am thrilled to announce Cloud9's participation in BLAST Premier. Joining this prestigious league reflects our commitment to excellence and competitiveness on a global stage. We look forward to showcasing the skill and determination of our talented players as we continue our CS2 journey with BLAST Premier
The BLAST Premier Member Teams for the 2024 season now include Astralis, NIP, G2 Esports, OG, Team Vitality, NAVI, FaZe Clan, Complexity, Team Liquid, Heroic, Cloud9, and BIG.
