The League of Legends World Championship 2024 (Worlds 2024) is now at its most crucial stage. In the upcoming Grand Final against Bilibili Gaming, fans are still curious whether we will be able to see Martin “Rekkles” Larson play onstage after remaining on the bench as T1’s substitute the whole tournament. The famed ZOFGK main roster has remained intact throughout their impressive run to finals, but the pressure of a championship match could create new opportunities.
On The Sidelines: Rekkles and His Current Role at Worlds 2024
While Rekkles is often seen with T1 in recent behind-the-scenes content, we have yet to see him with them on the Worlds stage. In an interview with Tolkin Clips posted on YouTube, Rekkles said that rather than seeking spotlight moments, he has been happy enough with taking on a more supportive role for T1.
The Swedish star, who spent all of his six past Worlds appearances with the LEC team Fnatic, has found it an honor to be at this year’s tournament as a substitute, even with the possibility of staying at the sidelines. In fact, he has seemed to embrace the role, contributing through casual interactions and adding to professional inputs coming from the coaches. “I am just here to support the guys in any way I can,” Rekkles explained, “and so far that has been playing chess with Faker and playing ping pong with Keria.”
Forming a friendship with the main roster despite language barriers has been quite evident in T1’s recent content. While his dynamics with the team appears to only be warming up, the additional morale boost seems enough to prepare T1 for games and relieve mental stress. A perspective coming from another veteran from a different region is also helpful in determining strategic approaches.
Possibilities in League of Legends Worlds 2024: T1 Rekkles in the Finals
If Rekkles does end up playing, there are several potential scenarios that may lead to stage time:
- Strategic swaps during the best-of-five
- Mental reset for the main roster if the matches become intense
- Emergency substitutions if needed
- Specific counter strategies against BLG
Despite not playing on stage yet, EMEA’s “King in the North” brings great value to T1 as a substitute. Rekkles’ time in the LEC saw him as one of the region’s greatest AD Carry players. After his transfer to Korea, he has then taken on the Support role playing for T1 Academy. That makes Rekkles a versatile backup option for T1 at Worlds, potentially swapping into Gumayusi or Keria’s positions.
The Finals Opportunity
Notably, BLG who would be T1’s opponents in the Final, have already made a swap early on in the Swiss Stage. At a crucial 1-2 match record, BLG swapped their then jungler Wei for XUN, succeeding to overcome their following opponents and thus making it this far in the competition.
T1, who had dominated so far with the ZOFGK roster however, has limited the need for roster changes. Their advancement to the main stage validates their current approach, and has been a showcase of strong team dynamics. However, the pressure of the League of Legends Worlds 2024 final could create situations where having an experienced substitute like T1 Rekkles becomes needed. Best-of-five matches, after all, often push teams to their limits.
Regardless of whether Rekkles plays or not in the Grand Final matches, if T1 claims victory, he would make history as the first European to win Worlds, even as the sixth man. Additionally, Rekkles’ professional approach to the substitute role shows how international talent can contribute to team success in various ways, and may inspire more cross-regional moves.
Conclusion
“I don’t need to be the guy that changes everything. I am just happy to be here,” Rekkles said, acknowledging the difference between dynamics and the reality of the situation. While it is currently unlikely that there will be a need for a swap, his presence alone is valuable to the team. His six previous Worlds appearances provide helpful insights, especially for high-stakes matches like finals.
As the ultimate League of Legends Worlds 2024 showdown between BLG and T1 approaches, T1 Rekkles maintains readiness as a substitute if ever an opportunity arises. While fans eagerly watch to see if he will get his chance to play, his current role demonstrates that impact at Worlds can come in many forms, both on and off the Rift.
