R7 Oddie reflects on LLA’s last World Cup after historic victory against 100 Thieves

Movistar R7 celebrated a historic victory against 100 Thieves in 2024 League of Legends World Championship Play-In Stage. According to R7 jungler Oddie, their victory marks the beginning of a true farewell to the LLA, concluding its journey as an independent region on the world stage.

When they entered the match, R7 wasn’t the favorite, but they proved everyone wrong, and when they took down 100T’s nexus turrets, the entire Riot Games Arena in Berlin erupted in cheers. “I wasn’t thinking about beating NA; this win was for our region and our rookies,” said R7’s jungler and LLA veteran Sebastián “Oddie” Niño in an exclusive interview with Dot Esports.

With the merger between Latin American Regions and NA approaching, Oddie said he felt the need to showcase his region’s talent at Worlds. Although he doesn’t know what will happen to him and his team in 2025, he is determined to continue his playing career. However, at the moment he does not want to talk about the future. He is focused on winning the 2024 World Championship for LLA and its fans.

“It’s not like we have to win because we’re better,” Oddie told Dot. “We’re just trying to win, because we have to win for our region. I don’t want to win because I’m better now than ever, I just want to win so that they – LLA fans – can be happy.

While reflecting on the path he and his team are on, Oddie shared how the latest Worlds song, “Heavy is the Crown“ from Linkin Park, resonated deeply with him as he feels the weight of carrying the hopes and dreams of his region in his final display on the international stage.

“The song was obviously for Faker and T1, but I listened to it and thought about myself because my whole region is literally dead right now,” Oddie said. “I don’t know how to say it, but when I see people calling me the GOAT of my region, I feel like there’s a lot on my shoulders. So I feel like that song is really good to get me hyped up.

The announcement of the LLA’s dissolution as a separate region was a moment of reflection for the player who has risen through the ranks throughout his career. Over the course of a decade, Oddie has become one of the most beloved and respected figures in the Latin American esports scene. Despite his love for his region and the passion he has put into his career over the years, Oddie was not initially sad about the merger with the LCS.

But then it hit him. This would be the last time.

“I was surprised, but honestly it didn’t hurt me that much because it was still three or two months before the end of the Split,” Oddie told Dot. “But as soon as I won, I thought, ‘Oh, this is the last time here.’ When I finally won the LLA at that time, it hurt me because I saw what it was: our region. Now it’s gone. That’s why this Worlds means so much to me. That’s why I put so much effort into playing and that’s why it’s important.”

Although fans and analysts alike often refer to him as LLA’s GOAT, Oddie remains humble, deflecting attention from himself throughout the interview as he emphasizes the importance of the younger generation of players he mentors on stage.

As the World Cup stage welcomes new talent, Oddie is keenly aware of the new generation of players taking the spotlight. With many rookies making their first appearances, including some of his own teammates, Oddie believes these young talents are the future of the game. He points out that the arrival of new faces keeps veterans like him on their toes and makes the game ‘more fun’, forcing older players to ‘play harder’ and reminding him of his own early days in the scene, when he was the one who brought established players pushed. to their limits.

His respect for these rising stars is clear, and he is especially proud of how well his rookies performed against 100 Thieves in their Worlds debut. For Oddie, the most satisfying part of their victory was seeing his teammates rally, proving that Latin America has what it takes to compete with and against the best.

But as he said, R7’s performance in the Worlds isn’t about personal success; it is about ensuring that Latin America’s eventual emergence as a region in its own right will be one to remember. With every win, Oddie hopes to give fans a reason to smile, knowing that the legacy of their region lives on through the players and teams they have supported for years. And although the crown he wears is heavy, Oddie wears it with pride, knowing he has done everything he can to represent his region on the world stage one last time.

R7 will play GAM Esports tomorrow at 7am CT and the winning team will qualify for the Swiss leg of Worlds 2024.