LoL - LTA North: Cloud9 and Team Liquid to compete in ARAM showmatch

Cloud9 and Team Liquid, two of the LTA North's top teams, were already set to face off on Saturday in a best of three LTA series. But now, they’ll be meeting once more the following day. The two teams have announced a showmatch taking place after Sunday’s LTA series, where they’ll be mixing squads and clashing in an ARAM showdown.

Per Cloud9’s statement, the event will be “in the Kia Champions Arena.” This left many fans confused, given that no such public place seems to exist. But this moniker may just refer to the name of the new event. Cloud9 is, after all, sponsored by Kia, and currently competing in LoL as Cloud9 Kia. It’s possible that the showmatch will take place in the Riot Games Arena, where the day’s previous LTA games will have just finished.

The showmatch will be an exciting one for fans of high-level NA play. Every player on Cloud9 and Team Liquid — save Ganbat “Yuuji” Ulziidelger, a relatively recent addition to TL's roster — has played in an LTA North finals this year, with TL having won theirs. The two teams have also both attended 2025 internationals: Team Liquid’s early elimination from First Stand, and Cloud9’s similar last place at the EWC. While those performances may have left fans disappointed, the teams are definitely two of the best in the LTA, and seeing those 10 players compete with jumbled rosters in ARAM may prove entertaining.

Team Liquid’s midlaner and botlaner, Eain “APA” Stearns and Sean “Yeon” Sung, have some showmatch experience, having both played in last year’s “LCS Rep Your Main” showmatch, where — under the banner of Team APA — they dominated Team Jojopyun. APA left the then-C9 midlaner Joseph Joon “Jojopyun” Pyun with a 3-19 KDA that day, mid gapping him with his signature Aurelion Sol. Whether or not APA can repeat that kind of showmatch success vs. C9 players is to be seen.