Tim presents a timeline and explanation of what happened between Fnatic and Cloud9 in their negotiations around Nisqy, and why Nisqy ended up without a team to play on at the end of it all.

Bloop’s report on the Free Agency Show

THE TIMELINE

Perkz wanted to go back to Europe.

• • C9 began negotiating a sale. Both Fnatic and Vitality were in the race, but all of the “Fnatic clause” context came into effect, ultimately C9 closed a deal with Vitality.

Meanwhile, Cloud9 was in the race for Bjergsen.

• • Bjergsen was unretiring, then chose to leave TSM. TL, C9, EG were in on him. I believe EG pulled back first, based on how the rumours developed.
  • It seems C9 were in and out on Bjergsen a couple of times.
    • Eventually either C9 pulled back from Bjergsen, or Bjergsen committed to TL (not sure which).

After Cloud9 moved away from Bjergsen for the last time, they started talking to Fnatic about Nisqy.

• • By this time, some teams are starting to solidify.
  • Fnatic asked for a fair amount more than 350k as a buyout. (Bloop reported that last year Fnatic paid 300k to C9 for Nisqy, as context.) I won’t be reporting actual numbers.

Cloud9 said no to the higher number. On the rumour mill, started hearing that C9 might promote Copy, or that they might swap Fudge to mid.

• • Seemed possible C9 were playing hardball, wanted Nisqy but were walking away as a negotiation tactic. Fnatic may have thought the same.

C9 began setting Fudge-mid plans in motion, building momentum on that plan.

After some time, Fnatic came back to C9 and offered Nisqy for 350k Euros. By now C9 had momentum going on the Fudge-mid plan and the Korean players they were pursuing, so they said no because they were excited about this new direction and decided to commit to it.

Now Nisqy had no other options.

• • • Other LCS and LEC teams that could afford to pay a buyout were already committed to other mid laners.

Why wouldn’t Fnatic just release Nisqy? See my video on what happens to “teamless” players.