League of Legends Worlds 2024: Movistar R7, Rainbow Road (1/20)

The League of Legends 2024 World Championship kicks off in Berlin on the 25th of September. A total of 20 teams will compete to succeed T1 at the top of the Riot Games MOBA world hierarchy. On this occasion, Sheep Esports brings you a daily feature on one of the teams taking part. On September 5th, the first episode of our series focuses on Movistar R7.

Movistar R7 has once again cemented their status as the dominant force in the Liga Latinoamérica (LLA). The team, which qualified for their fourth World Championship last August 24th, has achieved an unprecedented feat as this is the first time in their history they manage to qualify two years in a row. Their undefeated run during the Closing Split - equivalent to the Summer Split and played in a best-of-two format due to the region's having only six teams - showcases their great improvement throughout the year as they finished 2nd in the previous Opening Split, outclassed by Estral Esports. Since this defeat in the final, 150 days have passed without them loosing any series.

R7 however bounced back and scaled through the second half of the year. After a thrilling rematch against Estral, they managed to reverse sweep the LLA's champion going to five-game in playoffs' first round. Then, they seemed to have find their pace and ended up defeating Isurus Gaming and INFINITY in the semifinals and finals, respectively in a fashion manner.

They return to Worlds as the reigning champions of their region, determined to achieve what no LLA team has accomplished before: qualifying for the main event. The region's history at Worlds is rough, with nine teams from the LLA (and previously LAN/LAS) participating without ever advancing. This year, R7 faces a difficult task as they are set to play against the LCS's third seed in their opening match.

Two changes occurred in the roster during last year's offseason. Summit replaced current Geekay's toplaner Cho "Bong" Bo-woong and Lava replaced current Gentle Mates midlaner Jeong "Mireu" Jo-bin before leaving himself halfway through the year and letting Kim "Keine" Joon-cheol take over midlane. Yet, changing their previous two Korean imports from 2023 with two other Koreans still made them playing at the top level of the league.

Summit is probably the player you want to have your eyes on. He has build himself a strong reputation as he played in LCK, LCS and LPL through his 8-years long career. Having struggles with Team Liquid in 2023 despite miraculously qualifying to Worlds, he decided to join the LLA to conquer it and access to the international tournaments in a different way. He actually managed to qualify to Worlds only once in his career and have a specific track record of... zero win as Team Liquid got outclassed by T1, NRG and GAM, leaving the competition on a very humiliating note.

Coming back to get his first international win, he comes in the competition with full confidence as he successfully achieved his objective to come back to the international scene. Bringing a very versatile champion pool and his Gnar as a pocket pick, no doubt he has the tools to either carry his teammates through rough games as well as the potential to bring steadiness to their drafts by playing tanks.

You'll find below the 5-man roster of Movistar R7: