Latin America ascends: 2023 MSI Play-Ins Day 4 recap

Movistar R7 won 2-1 against GAM Esports and LOUD beat DetonatioN FocusMe 2-0 on May 5, the fourth match day of play-ins at the 2023 Mid-Season Invitational (MSI) at Copper Box Arena in London, England.

Mexico's R7 (Liga Latinoamérica/LLA, #1) advances to face America's Golden Guardians (League Championship Series/LCS, #2), while Brazil's LOUD (Campeonato Brasileiro de League of Legends/CBLOL, #1) will play Hong Kong's PSG Talon (Pacific Championship Series/PCS, #1). Both series will take place on May 6, and the winners will face each other in the Last Chance Qualifier on May 7.

Vietnam's GAM (Vietnam Championship Series/VCS, #1) and Japan's DFM (League Japanese League/LJL, #1) have been eliminated from MSI 2023.

Movistar R7 vs. GAM Esports

Game 1: R7 wins

Movistar R7 won Game 1 against GAM Esports by a 23-22 score in 35:26. R7 top laner Cho "Bong" Bo-woong smoked his opponents on his 6/1/11 K'Sante; and bot laner Lorenzo "Ceo" Tévez finished 7/3/9 as Xayah. In the loss, GAM bot laner Mai "Sty1e" Hoàng Sơn was 9/4/11 on Zeri, and GAM secured nine towers, two inhibitors, Baron Nashor, two dragons and two Rift Heralds. Strafe Player of the Game: R7 Bong, 1st

Game 2: GAM wins

GAM Esports tied up their series versus Movistar R7 with a 32:49 win in which they led 21-12 in kills. GAM jungler Đỗ "Levi" Duy Khánh went 8/1/11 on Wukong, leading in kills and stealing a pivotal Baron; and top laner Trần "Kiaya" Duy Sang added a 5/3/5 Gwen performance. On the losing side, R7 Ceo's Xayah notched a 5/4/3 score. Strafe Player of the Game: GAM Levi, 1st

Game 3: R7 wins

Rainbow7 won their first international series with a 19-7 Game 3 win against GAM Esports in 27:31. R7 jungler Sebastián "Oddie" Alonso Niño Zavaleta went 4/1/9 on Poppy; mid laner Jeong "Mireu" Jo-bin finished 5/0/7 on Sylas; and Ceo and support Pedro Luis "Lyonz" Peralta went 6/1/6 on Xayah and 2/0/13 on Rakan. Strafe Player of the Game: R7 Ceo, 1st

LOUD vs. DetonatioN FocusMe

Game 1: LLL wins

LOUD opened up their series against DetonatioN FocusMe with a 13-4 win that lasted 24:09. LLL top laner Leonardo "Robo" Souza was 3/0/03 on Gnar; jungler Park "Croc" Jong-hoon notched a 3/1/7 Maokai KDA; mid laner Thiago "tinowns" Sartori finished 2/1/5 as Swain; and botlaner Moon "Route" Geom-su and support Denilson "Ceos" Oliveira Gonçalves were 5/1/5 on Aphelios and 0/1/9 on Leona. In their losing effort, DFM jungler Mun "Steal" Geon-yeong was 2/1/2 on Nidalee, and his teamm only secured two towers. Strafe Player of the Game: LLL Route, 1st

Game 2: LLL wins

LOUD won their lopsided series versus DetonatioN FocusMe with a 25:57 win in Game 2 in which they led 17-8 in kills. LLL Croc went 2/1/6 as Maokai; Tinowns's Cassiopeia finished 5/0/9; Ceos's 0/1/13 Thresh helped Route secure Player of the Series honors with a 6/2/5 Aphelios performance. Strafe Player of the Game: LLL Tinowns, 1st

Riot Player of the Series: LLL Route (11/3/10), 1st

Featured photos courtesy of Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games.