LOUD Robo talks MSI 2023 goals, British weather, Brazilian fans

LOUD players were back on the international stage at the Mid Season Invitational (MSI 2023) event once again after demonstrating the strength of Brazil's League of Legends scene. The players pushed G2 Esports as far as possible and then went up against DFM. Esports.gg sat down with famed Brazillian toplaner Leonardo "Robo" Souza to ask for his thoughts on play-ins, pushing for the best results possible, and being on the same team as Thiago "tinowns" Sartori for over two years. Read on for our LOUD Robo interview.

Question: You were expected to win here, but does being expected to win add an additional pressure to follow through on expectations?

Robo: With or without pressure, we were sure that if we played our game, we would get a good result. It is something normal for us because it is an international competition and we are representing Brazil. So it’s less about the pressure itself and more about how we handle that pressure.

Question: You took Gnar both games. In your opinion, is this a top-three champ in the top lane?

Robo: After we analyzed them, knowing that they wouldn’t play anything that would counter Gnar, I went ahead and played it. It isn’t a normal or standard pick here, but it was a pick specifically for that match because Gnar’s development in the game is good. And because they played defensively, it was a good counter to that — to bring good results via different means.

Question: What are the top lane's top champs to play and why?

Robo: First one —Kennen because there’s not really a special counter for it. It’s aggressive and good in fights and skirmishes. Secondly, K'Sante is very aggressive, trades well, and would not lose to anyone. If you play him well and scale, then he’s a good pick. Finally, while some may think Sion or Jax for the top lane, [it's] also [about] whatever that player is comfortable on and [if they] can play well.

Question: It’s rare for pros to stay on the same team together for extended periods of time. You and tinowns have been playing together for over two years across different teams. What is your relationship like with tinowns, and how does it help you become a better player?

Robo: Outside of the game, we are very close. So that helps a lot when we are in a game. Although our playstyles used to be very different, we have now found a middle ground where it works for both of us and where we are getting good results. It is working well for both of us.

Question: Was this a revenge match for you over DFM to claim the win as they had blocked you at Worlds 2022?

Robo: I wouldn’t say it was a revenge match because, for me, I like to match up with the original team we played whereas here, they made changes among the players. So it's not a revenge match per say — on the org, yes, but not on the exact roster. I used to play Evi — it was good, but this wasn’t a revenge match. For Croc, this could have been, but not for me.

Question: What does being a pro player and playing on the international stage mean to you?

Robo: It is something I've always wanted to do, and to achieve it is so important to me — to be able to represent Brazil and represent them well to bring even better results. It’s so good to be representing Brazil. And as a pro player, it requires me to be focused and to strive for the best to improve to continue getting better and better results.

Question: How do you feel having so many fans here despite being far away from the CBLOL?

Robo: Overall, the Brazil crowd will always be the best in the world — they’ve been cheering for us all the time and they deserve the best results. So we want to bring those results to them. We are working hard to ensure this happens.

Question: You’ve obviously traveled quite far to be here, and the U.K. has a reputation for raining. It's also been raining all day. So are you enjoying the weather?

Robo: The rain here is pretty similar to Brazil where it just starts randomly pouring with rain and then clears out. But I would say the biggest struggle for me at the minute is the fact there is sunlight until 9 to 10 p.m., which doesn’t exist in Brazil. In Brazil, things will be darker by 6 to 7 p.m. at night, and it’s something I'm still trying to adjust to. I'm not sure how easy it will be to get used to before we leave.

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