The start of the 2026 Summer Split is a tournament in which teams will finally cement their status as contenders or outsiders for international tournaments. Cloud9 and Karmine Corp are among the teams expected to perform at a high level, yet instead both organisations have found themselves at the centre of discussions due to issues unrelated to mechanical prowess or individual player skills. Fans and critics are discussing their drafts, as they believe the teams are weak in this area. In this article, we will explore whether the draft crisis really threatens to ruin Cloud9 and Karmine Corp’s summer split and the balance of power on the professional LoL scene.
Why Are Cloud9's Drafts Becoming Their Biggest Weakness?
During the 2026 season, Cloud9 competed in only a few tournaments. The team finished as runners-up in the 2026 LCS Lock-In and the 2026 Americas Cup, and placed in the top six of the 2026 Esports World Cup – North America Qualifier. Even during the spring tournaments, analysts noted that the team often relied on the same set of champions. Star players are capable of winning individual matches thanks to their personal skill, but over the long haul of the season, opponents begin to adapt.
It is worth bearing in mind that the current competition calendar punishes predictability particularly harshly and does not allow teams to make mistakes. Just one failed qualifier and the team is out of the top tournament. As is the case with the lol summer split 2026, only eight teams are taking part. That is precisely why the first thing to focus on is working on drafts, which is no less important than the players’ individual skill.
According to stats platforms, the meta summer of 2026 includes champions with high flexibility on the top line and viability in the jungle. When watching the latest Cloud9 matches, it is especially noticeable that the team often leaves itself without a reliable frontline. Even if the early stage is successful, in the middle of the game the team sags at a pace and if it does not win quickly, it loses. This is a problem not of individual performers, but of a systematic approach to the draft.
Why Is Karmine Corp Struggling To Adapt To The Current Meta?
For Karmine Corp, the situation looks even more intriguing. The team boasts one of the strongest fan bases in Europe and needs to live up to high expectations.
The main problem with Karmine Corp’s drafts lies in their excessive reliance on individual players’ comfort picks. When opponents ban key champions or force KC to change their plan due to early bans, the team often loses the cohesion of their composition.
Take, for example, the LEC 2026 Spring Grand Final match against G2 Esports. KC got off to a good start on the first map and also secured a victory on the third. However, looking at maps four and five, Karmine Corp made poor draft choices, failed to execute their strategies, and lost the match 2-3, finishing as runners-up.
Another important aspect is the reaction of the coaching staff during the series. Real specialists should be able to quickly respond to all game situations. The coaching staff should immediately notice the mistakes of the players and make adjustments to the game strategy. In the case of KC, the team works better according to a pre-prepared scenario than in situations where it is necessary to quickly rebuild.
How Do Drafting Errors Affect Playoff And Worlds Chances
The start of summer is one of the most crucial parts of the season on the professional League of Legends scene. Teams are competing in qualifiers for the EWC, MSI and Worlds.
Cloud9 are competing in the LCS 2026 Spring, where they have currently reached the Lower Bracket Final, where they will face Team Liquid for a place in the Grand Final. If the team wins, they will secure their place at MSI. Karmine Corp, meanwhile, will compete in the LEC 2026 Summer, where they need to finish in the top three to qualify for Worlds.
However, it is worth returning to the issue of these teams’ drafts. If their opponents continue to successfully read their priorities during the ban and pick phase, they risk finding themselves in a situation where they have to win every match solely on the strength of their mechanics. Over the course of an entire split, this approach rarely works.
The European region where Karmine Corp play is one of the most competitive in the world, so the team needs to try hard. Teams like G2 Esports and Fnatic traditionally show a high level of preparation for the series, so any repeated patterns quickly become a target for rivals. This is especially important in the context of the struggle for tickets to Worlds 2026, the main LoL tournament of the year. Even a few extra losses can change tournament seeding and lead to a more difficult playoff bracket. As a result, problems that today seem local are able to determine the entire season.
Can Cloud9 And Karmine Corp Fix Their Draft Problems Before It's Too Late?
The good news for fans is that both teams have plenty of time and resources to prepare for the season’s major tournaments. Both Cloud9 and Karmine Corp boast strong coaching staffs and experienced players. For Cloud9, the primary task should be to expand their pool of priority champions, whilst Karmine Corp, for their part, need greater flexibility in their map play.
Sometimes it's not about coming up with a new strategy, it's about responding more quickly to changes that are already happening on stage. It is this trait that distinguishes title contenders from mid-level teams. An interesting conclusion can be drawn from personal observations while watching summer matches: when both teams receive balanced compositions without obvious distortions, the difference in the individual level of the players allows them to compete with almost any opponent.
Conclusion
Cloud9 and Karmine Corp both have ambitions to compete for the top spots at every S-tier tournament, but at present both organisations face the same challenge: inconsistent draft quality. Despite having strong players and substantial resources, repeated mistakes during the ban and pick phase are already affecting match results. Draft issues can be rectified much more quickly than fundamental shortcomings in the roster or team coordination. If the teams manage to correct their mistakes before the upcoming tournaments, they will be able to compete for a place at MSI and Worlds.