Cloud9 continued their dominance in Halo Infinite in Pro Series Week 4.
The Halo Championship Series (HCS) is in full swing following the Raleigh Kickoff LAN and four subsequent Pro Series competitions. Top team Cloud9 captured the title in each of those tournaments. Every team not named Cloud9 has done their best to match Renegade, Eco, StelluR and Pznguin, but to no avail.
C9 bested the likes of FaZe Clan, eUnited and OpTic Gaming multiple times across that stretch. The build-up and intrigue led to this week’s HCS Pro Series tournament, where Cloud9 would once again look to claim another historic victory. With HCS Anaheim mere weeks away, every single point counts.
Sixteen teams narrowed to just two after several hours of top-tier Halo Infinite. The HCS Pro Series Week 4 Grand Finals came down to Cloud9 and Sentinels. Ultimately, Cloud9 proved once more why they are the world’s best Halo Infinite squad.
Tale of the Tape: Cloud9 vs. Sentinels
Our #HCSProSeries Grand Finals are set! Can @Sentinels deny the @Cloud9 4-peat?
Tune in live 👇https://t.co/e5eEldZtkm | https://t.co/pChu7q04XN pic.twitter.com/wiuQHnu6WU
— Halo Esports #HCS (@HCS) January 28, 2022
For the first time in weeks, Cloud9 had to overcome adversity en route to another Grand Finals appearance. The path was not perfect—C9 dispatched we love anime, Spacestation Gaming, eUnited and FaZe Clan to give themselves a chance to win their fourth straight Pro Series. C9 dropped three games along the way but still looked strong.
On the other side, Sentinels hit a skid early in the upper bracket, losing 2-0 to OpTic Gaming. As a result, Sentinels needed to muster up the strength to make a run through the lower bracket. LethuL and company did just that, winning series over FNATIC, G2 Esports, eUnited, OpTic Gaming and FaZe Clan. Sentinels had plenty of reps and lots of momentum heading into the Grand Finals showdown against Cloud9.
Cloud9 Collect Fourth Straight Pro Series Tournament
They’ve done it! @Cloud9 secure the 4-peat in the NA #HCSProSeries – congratulations!@KevinEcoSmith @Pznguin @Renegade_JW @StelluR @HoaxerTV https://t.co/4HI5QBbIEH
— Halo Esports #HCS (@HCS) January 28, 2022
Sentinels established the early series lead after taking Cloud9 on Free Fire Strongholds. Game one remained close—the two teams traded captures back and forth. Sentinels eventually pulled away toward the end, finishing the match 250-154 on the heels of a 20-plus kill performance out of Frosty and Formal. It seemed that perhaps Sentinels’ momentum could carry forward into a bracket reset.
Game two put Cloud9 right back into the four-peat discussion. Recharge Slayer provided a venue that C9 has dominated in the past. The Raleigh Champs jumped out to a nine-kill lead and stayed there throughout the game. Sentinels struggled to match C9’s momentum, which included a 16-kill effort by StelluR. Just like that, Sentinels were even at one game each with a potential bracket reset looming.
The @Cloud9 squad is 1 map away from going 4-for-4 👀https://t.co/e5eEldZtkm | https://t.co/pChu7q04XN pic.twitter.com/1G3Gqz9HAa
— Halo Esports #HCS (@HCS) January 28, 2022
Cloud9 erased all of their mistakes in match three. In perhaps their most dominant showing of the night, C9 made quick work of a talented Sentinels roster on Bazaar CTF. Cloud9 opened the game with an effortless capture, and four more unanswered points followed. C9 showcased brilliant map control while not giving Sentinels even an inch. Their collective performance produced a 5-0 victory and positive kill-death ratios across the board.
Sentinels now had their back against the ropes like so many other teams before. Game four came down to Oddball Streets as Sentinels looked to halt Cloud9’s momentum. LethuL, Formal, Frosty and Snakebite started strong, winning the first round convincingly. Regardless, Cloud9 approached rounds two and three with an unwavering demeanor. C9 took round two before rallying back from a deficit in round three to take the series and the tournament.
It was not a perfect tournament by any means — but even Cloud9’s worst is enough to come out victorious. Their fourth consecutive Pro Series win speaks to the body of work since Halo Infinite began. Eco, Pznguin, Renegade and StelluR offer a degree of teamwork and game knowledge that supersedes every other team. They’ll be the heavy favorites heading into HCS Anaheim—and for a good reason.
Final Results
- 1st: Cloud9
- 2nd: Sentinels
- 3rd: FaZe Clan
- 4th: OpTic Gaming
- 5th-6th: eUnited, XSET
- 7th-8th: G2 Esports, Spacestation Gaming
- 9th-12th: Built By Gamers, FNATIC, Pioneers, Oxygen Esports
- 13th-16th: we love anime, Complexity Gaming, G1, Unsigned Talent
The HCS continues this weekend with the NA Regional Qualifier for next month’s Anaheim event. Then, the best North American Halo Infinite teams will square off on LAN at HCS Anaheim for a share of $125K USD next month. Be sure to check back with ESTNN for seeding and more before the Anaheim competition!
Featured Image: HCS
