Cloud9 have reportedly found their new mid laner for the upcoming 2025 season: joining from LCK Challengers, Lee “Loki” Sang-min will make his debut in NA.
Image Credit: Riot Games/LCK CL
Loki – another Korean import joins Cloud9
According to a report by Sheep Esports, Loki has reached a verbal agreement with Cloud9 to become the starting mid lane for the team in 2025. The team has been on the lookout for a new player during the offseason, after jojopyun left the team to join MDK in the LEC.
Cloud9 is known for importing players from Korea, having previously brought in the likes of EMEN3s, Berserker, and Thanatos. Once again, the NA team decided to pick from the LCK Challengers League, as C9 reportedly also considered Dplus KIA Challengers mid lane Kang “Saint” Sung-in for the position.
Big changes coming for C9
C9 comes from a disappointing season which saw the team fail to qualify for Worlds 2024. Despite having on paper one of the strongest lineups in the competition, C9 struggled in the later stages of the season, losing to 100Thieves in the LCS Championship.
Shortly after the end, ADC Berserker was set to leave after spending three years with the squad. Jojopyun was recently confirmed to join MDK. Zven, who has decided to return to the AD position, was chosen as the replacement for Berserker while Loki was the last piece to complete the puzzle for 2025. Aside from Zven, Loki will play alongside top laner Thanatos, jungler Blaber, and support Vulcan.
Loki’s career so far in professional play
The Korean mid lane started playing competitive back in 2022, working with HLE Academy and moving up his way to HLE Challengers in 2023 as a substitute and as a starter this season. In 2024, he finished fourth and sixth in Spring and Summer, respectively.
While he didn’t have the best individual stats in LCK Challengers, he will now have the chance to show his worth in a tier-one league alongside a top-tier lineup.