With just over a month until the beginning of the League Championship Series summer split, longstanding North American organization Cloud9 has finalized its deal with Korean top laner Jung "Impact" Eon-yeong, sources close to the organization and player tell ESPN. Additionally, the team is planning a boot camp for its new LCS roster in Korea--if it goes through, it should occur in the coming weeks.
Cloud9 first made the bid for Impact a week ago, approaching NRG Esports management for permission to negotiate with the player. Impact was interested in taking a deal with the team. Now, he's signed with the squad and is looking to compete in the summer season.
As for the remaining part of the Cloud9 roster, it was released by the team's partner, Red Bull, yesterday that substitute support Michael "Bunny FuFuu" Kurylo will be starting on the lineup. Meanwhile the team's jungler will be the team's former jungler William "Meteos" Hartman, sources say.
The team has also made an offer to Ember jungler Juan "Contractz" Arturo Garcia to practice with the squad this year and compete in the LCS next year, after he turns 17-years-old and is old enough to legally work in California. But according to sources, that offer does not seem likely to be acted upon.
If nothing else changes, the finalized Cloud9 LCS lineup will consist of top laner Impact, jungler Meteos, mid laner Nicolaj "Jensen" Jensen, AD carry Zachary "Sneaky" Scuderi, and support Bunny FuFuu.
The remaining members of the Cloud9, top laner An "Balls" Le, jungler Lee "Rush" Yoon-jae, mid laner and support Hai "Hai" Du Lam, and support Daerek "LemonNation" Hart, will compete on the team's Challenger squad and serve as substitutes for the main team.
Rounding out the Challenger lineup will be former NRG Esports AD carry Johnny "Altec" Ru, who is currently being replaced on his own team and is on-loan to Cloud9.
Cloud9 purchased the Challenger Series spot formerly owned by Enemy. Due to Enemy's sixth place finish last split, the Cloud9 Challenger team will need to compete in the qualifier in a few weeks, playing the opponent that Dream Team does not choose.
Filling Impact's shoes on NRG may be former Team Liquid top laner Diego "Quas" Ruiz, who received an offer from both NRG and Renegades four days ago. The player has more interest in playing with NRG squad than with Renegades, according to sources close to the player and organization.
Cloud9 has declined to comment on this report.