Naz Aletaha, Global Leader of LoL Esports: "Worlds is something unique and incomparable"

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With the World Championship League of Legends About to start, the entire esports community in Latin America is preparing for what will be one of the biggest events of the year, in which Mexico City will go down in history as one of its official venues.

To kick off this long-awaited international event, members of the press, content creators, and Rioters gathered for the official preview at the Franz Meyer Museum, where we learned more about Worlds 2022 from personalities like Naz Aletaha.

On the occasion of this, from LEVEL UP we were able to share a few minutes with the current global leader of LoL Esports, in which we learned more about the planning of an event of this size, her expectations for the future of the competitive, and what was what more influenced when making decisions to make this edition something unique and incomparable.

Interview with Naz Aletaha, Global Leader of LoL Esports

LEVEL UP: Now that you’re in Mexico, what are everyone’s expectations at Riot Games, seeing as we’re just hours away from Worlds 2022 kicking off?

Naz Aletaha: Our wishes and expectations are always to give fans an unforgettable experience, and I think we will be able to achieve that starting tomorrow and for the next 6 weeks.

Also, being the first time we are in Mexico City, the reception from all the fans and the community has been very welcoming for us, so we couldn’t be more excited that this is already starting.

LEVEL UP: As we know, this will be the first time since 2019 that Worlds will have a live audience from day one. What were the main challenges in making this possible?

Naz Aletaha: I think the biggest challenge, not just for Worlds but for any global event, is being able to bring people from all over the world together in one place.

The work behind the logistics, the visas, everything that must happen to bring the 24 teams from its 11 regions to compete is unimaginable. Fortunately, all the Play-In qualifiers are already here prepared, and those who will go to the group stage are on their way to New York.

We are very grateful for the facilities that the Mexico City government gave us to make this possible, so it is more certain that we will have a great event despite the difficulties.

LEVEL UP: What was the most influential when choosing Mexico as the venue for the Play-In?

Naz Aletaha: We always seek to bring the World Cup to where our fans are, although this is usually a difficult decision since League of Legends it is present everywhere.

When we decided to return to North America for the first time in 6 years, we saw Latin America as a suitable place for this edition. Having such a passionate League of Legends community here, we couldn’t help but bring the Worlds party to this one, so it became a priority to start this continental tour in Mexico City.

LEVEL UP: With all the changes that Worlds has gone through in the last few years, can we expect anything more in terms of a new format or even more regions participating in future editions?

Naz Aletaha: We’re always looking for ways to elevate the competition and make the Cup fight even more exciting.

For example, the addition of the Mercedes-Benz champion rings in 2021 contributed to all this evolution, and with only 12 years of existence so far, LoL Esports is still in its infancy when compared to other traditional sports.

That being said, in the future we hope to bring new formats and more things to make this bigger, so anything can happen.

LEVEL UP: Regarding the new Summoner’s Cup, it didn’t take long for many people to show their criticisms and opinions about the redesign, and the collaboration with Tiffany & Co. What was it that led you to lean towards this decision?

Naz Aletaha: The Summoner’s Cup is the pinnacle of League of Legendsis a symbol of the greatest achievement that can be achieved in our discipline.

With this in mind, we wanted to modernize the Cup since just like the game, the competition has evolved since that first tournament where Fnatic became champion. Now that we had the opportunity to do so, we set out to find the right people to bring this vision to life, so the Tiffany team was chosen for this masterful task.

However, we also understand all those who still love the previous trophy, and we hope that in time they will be able to do the same with this redesign, as we honor the past and history of LoL Esports for a new generation.

LEVEL UP: Likewise, the release of the Worlds 2022 theme was met with a mixed reception, with most agreeing that it is a good song but not suitable for such an event. How was the process behind this piece of music?

Naz Aletaha: From the beginning we worked hand in hand with Lil Nas X and his team, and in fact we loved what the final result was.

By doing a different Worlds theme for each year, it gives us a chance to be creative and try new things, and that’s what we wanted to do this time around. It’s a song I personally love listening to, and I hope viewers will enjoy it too when it comes time for the finale in San Francisco.

LEVEL UP: What meaning is behind this year’s slogan, “One & Only”?

Naz Aletaha: One & Only represents what Worlds is and what it has become. We know that there are many global esports championships, but our goal is that nothing can compare to Worlds.

Worlds is something unique and unmatched, as are the teams and players that are part of it. The talent we see on stage with each game are truly the best of the best, and it’s a show that only we can bring year after year.

LEVEL UP: To conclude we would like to know, will you support any particular team during this Worlds?

Naz Aletaha: It is very difficult to choose a team, but I am sure that I will support Isurus a lot. I’m excited to see them play in front of their home crowd, and I really wish them the best for everything to come.

From LEVEL UP we appreciate the attention that both the Riot Games team and Pulpo PR gave us for conducting this interview, and we invite everyone to enjoy Worlds 2022 from September 29 to November 5, through official LoL Esports channels.

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