Cloud9 and FlyQuest Dominate! The Final LTA North Playoffs of the Year Are Locked

The final split of the year in the LTA North is nearing its conclusion. FlyQuest and Cloud9 may have dominated the competition thus far, but if they have any hope of performing on the international stage, then they cannot take their eyes off the prize at the 2025 Split 3 Playoffs.

With spots at the 2025 LTA Championship, and potentially Worlds 2025, on the line, the time for LTA North teams to lock in is now!

Teams are coming for the final trophy of the year in the LTA North. (Credit: Colin Young-Wolff / Riot Games)

Format & Schedule

The Elimination Phase is the final stage of Split 3 in the LTA North. Essentially working just like playoffs always do, this phase will see all 8 teams in the league — Cloud9, FlyQuest, Team Liquid, Shopify Rebellion, Disguised, LYON, 100 Thieves, and Dignitas — battle for a chance to earn the title of final LTA Champions of 2025.

Here's everything you can expect from the Elimination Phase:

• Kicks off Saturday, August 16th
• Double-elimination bracket
• All matches are Bo5 (maximum Fearless Draft!)
• Top three teams qualify to the 2025 LTA Championship
  • There, they will battle against the best teams from the LTA South for a chance to attend Worlds 2025
• Grand Finals take place on Sunday, September 7th
• Only one match per day
• All matches start at 1 pm PT / 10 pm CET

Opening Matchups & Predictions

To kick the bracket stage action, the LTA North Split 3 Playoffs will see the top 4 teams from the Regular Season battle it out to decide who will head straight to the Upper Bracket Finals. Let's go over what we can expect from the opening matchups of the Elimination Phase.

Cloud9 vs Shopify Rebellion [Saturday, August 16th - 1 pm PT / 10 pm CET]

With a flawless score of 6 games played, 6 games won, Cloud9 will head into the Elimination Phase high on confidence. Despite being one of the strongest teams in the region all season long, C9 haven't managed to come away with a single trophy in 2025. Now, they will be hoping to make their final shot count.

Aided by a favorable schedule, Shopify Rebellion put up a commendable performance leading up to the playoffs. Up against C9, though, the team will face their toughest challenge yet.

Prediction: Despite Shopify Rebellion's good run of form, the team does not look equipped to deal with a C9 squad that has as much talent as they do hunger. Expect Cloud9 to sweep the series 3-0.

FlyQuest vs Team Liquid [Sunday, August 17th - 1 pm PT / 10 pm CET]

Like C9, FlyQuest failed to drop a single game throughout the Regular Season. After claiming the trophy back in Split 2, there's little doubt FLY are the team to beat in the LTA.

Team Liquid's tale, meanwhile, paints a drastically different picture. The team that once stood among the giants of North America has struggled to find their form as of late. While Yeon and CoreJJ remain one of the strongest bot lane duos in the league, TL will need the rest of the squad to level up if they wish to pierce through FlyQuest's armor.

Prediction: Team Liquid may lock in yet, but it hardly seems like enough to topple a team that will be eager to return to Worlds once more. We don't expect FlyQuest to have too much trouble getting past TL with a 3-1 scoreline.

Will the final LTA North trophy of the year come down to FlyQuest and Cloud9 in the end? (Credit: Colin Young-Wolff / Riot Games)

Tickets

If you would like to catch the LTA North Split 3 Elimination Phase action live at the Riot Games Arena in Los Angeles, you can purchase your tickets here. Tickets are already on sale for the price of $23 USD.

After this stage draws to a close, the 2025 LTA Championship will head to Allen, Texas! There, you can watch the final LTA Champions be crowned on September 28th.

Where to Watch

A year of action in the LTA North is coming to a close, and you won't want to miss a second of it. Catch the Split 3 Elimination Phase matches live by tuning in to the official Twitch or YouTube channels for the league starting Saturday, August 16th!

If you would like to watch the games along with your favorite streamers instead, you can do so as well by joining any of the official channels of co-streamers for the LTA North.

The official list of LTA North co-streamers is long, offering several ways to catch the action. (Credit: LTA North)

Follow Strafe Esports for all the latest League news and our X account for the latest content and coverages. Also, stay tuned to Strafe YouTube for exclusive interviews, press conferences, and more.

Feature image credit: Colin Young-Wolff / Riot Games

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