"We've all been losers," ZionSpartan said after Counter Logic Gaming 3-0 sweep over Team SoloMid in the LCS Grand Finals. "We've all been pros, for like, two or three years, and we've all been through relegations."

He was right. Coming in to the NA LCS finals at the storied Madison Square Garden, not a single member of Counter Logic Gaming had ever won a major tournament. Zion was the closest, having barely lost to TSM back in the inaugural LCS season when he played for Good Game University. Since that loss, he's bounced around various teams without any significant results despite being regarded as one of the best top laners in North America .

CLG's jungler, Xmithie, had gone to Worlds once back in 2013 on Team Vulcun, but failed to make it out of the group stages. After that team fell apart in 2014, Xmithie had a difficult time finding his place back into the LCS. When he was brought on to CLG at the beginning of the year, he was heavily scrutinized for every mistake he made. His worst moments came in last season's playoffs, when he misfired on crucial engagements that led to his squad getting routed in the first round.

Pobelter wasn't even in the LCS a few months ago. All we ever heard about CLG's starting mid laner was how much 'potential' he had, and that if he ever stuck with a good team that could support him, he'd be a star. Everything came crashing down for Pobelter during the spring split when his team at the time. Winterfox, fell into the relegation rounds and were upset by Team Dragon Knights in a do-or-die promotional series. Eliminated from NA's premiere league following countless seasons of being on a bottom three team, it was the low point of the young player's career.

Don't even get me started on Doublelift. Jokes about his trophy case. Laughing at his sad attempts in the playoffs to make it past the semifinals. All he can do is click around the map well with no brain behind his play. The classic case of an innately skilled player that didn't have the trust in his teammates or the strategic mind to ever be anything more than a flashy disappointment. Up until Counter Logic Gaming closed out TSM and destroyed their Nexus to win the domestic championship on Sunday night, there were still questions about whether or not Doublelift could complete his journey without failing for the sixth straight season.

Similar to Zion, Aphromoo, was a highly respected player at his position, but the results just weren't there. Saddled with Doublelift in the bottom lane, he had to listen to criticism about needing a new bottom lane partner to succeed, or that he'll never win anything as a member of Counter Logic Gaming. Aphromoo took on more of a leadership and shot calling role as Link departed from the team after the spring split, putting an even bigger weight on his shoulders to silence the monotonous jeers of CLG's choking from the peanut gallery.

"We're done being losers. We're going to play like a team," Zion said as the crowd's yells heightened. "I think we're the first team in [North America] that will actually make a difference at Worlds.

"I think we can win the whole thing."

Before their triumphant victory over SoloMid, Counter Logic's postseason record had been horrendous. In their past two playoff series prior to this split, they had been crushed by Team Liquid in a commanding 3-0 sweep, and last year had a similar fate by getting blown out by the same organization to end 2014. Whenever they made it into the knockout rounds, it wasn't a question of if CLG would lose in the playoffs — it was a question of when and how were they going to get eliminated?

Being a losing team is one thing, but always battling in the relegation matches, fighting for your career, and practicing every second of the day to not lose your precarious spot in the world of pro-gamers is a whole different beast when you're on a losing squad that also happens to be one of the most popular teams in the world.

Doublelift, one of pioneers of the North American scene, had to live in that world for the past three years. He could have an incredible game in the regular season and lead his team to six straight wins in the LCS, but all the goodwill he accrued would be stomped into the ground immediately after CLG's first blowout loss. Prior to tonight, all of his accomplishments, fantastic games, and highlight reel plays were for naught. Everything he ever did would be thrown back into his face until he took hold of the championship trophy and lifted it high for the entire world — faithful believers and criticizers alike — to see.

The final games themselves were nothing to write a Hollywood motion picture about. Counter Logic Gaming didn't fight from behind or push back adversity when it was thrown in their face. Team SoloMid didn't knock them down and go for a deathblow. It wasn't Mighty Ducks or any other script where the underdogs barely got the victory over the defending champions that had bullied them for years on end.

Counter Logic Gaming took command of the series early and never let their grip waver. After getting blown out and embarrassed continuously in the playoffs, this was their revenge. They took both playoff matches in a 3-0 sweep, with the first win coming against Team Impulse in the semifinals, and then beating TSM in front of thousands of roaring fans in the same arena that the New York Knicks call home.

It wasn't inspiring. It wasn't courageous. It was overwhelming authority throughout the series, reaffirming the order of their playstyle that they've become renowned for all split long. They got an early lead, knew how to snowball the advantages, and didn't let Team SoloMid do their usual trick of coming from behind in the late-game through a miracle team fight or objective contention to get back into the game.

When TSM tried to gain one final breath to extend the series, CLG stepped on their necks and ended their dreams of a three-peat.

Tomorrow, when CLG's members wake up from their post-championship celebrations, they'll no longer be the self-proclaimed losers that walked into New York City a few days ago. They are now North America's top seed going into the Worlds, and as ZionSpartan stated after winning, possibly the region's first chance in a long time to make it into the semifinals.

SK Telecom T1.

Fnatic.

LGD Gaming.

And many others, including Team SoloMid, will be awaiting Counter Logic Gaming's arrival in Europe this October, ready to take a shot at North America's best.

But for tonight, CLG and their loyal fans can bask in the fact that no matter what you call it — the Faith Age, the Golden Age, the New Age of CLG — the wait is finally over.

Counter Logic Gaming are champions.

Tyler "Fionn" Erzberger is a staff writer for theScore eSports who covers the North American LCS and Korea's Champions. You can follow him on Twitter.