Members of the team Edward Gaming, DWG KIA, Royal Never Give Up, and Gen.G have tested positive for COVID-19 following the conclusion of the first phase of the League of Legends World Championship Group Stage.
Players and staff members from several teams competing in the 2022 League of Legends World Championship have been affected by a rise in COVID-19 infections. The infected players, however, are now feeling well and can participate in their respective matches on an isolated LAN setup.
RNG players contracted the COVID-19 infection
In a statement about the team’s status, RNG said that many of the players and coaching staff have tested positive for COVID-19. They are currently being held in isolation but are otherwise healthy. As for the team’s final match of the group stage, it seems that they will be playing from their isolation rooms. In addition to four starters testing positive, several members of RNG’s staff, including coach Wong “Tabe” Pak-kan and Yang “Xiaobai” Zhonghe, have also contracted COVID-19.
RNG ANNOUNCEMENT pic.twitter.com/LXuq2wqBDH
— Royal Never Give Up (@RNG) October 13, 2022
Infected players:
- Chen “Breathe” Chen
- Yangwei “Wei” Yan
- Yuanhao “Xiaohu” Li
- Sen-Ming “Ming” Shi
DWG KIA and GenG players test positive for COVID-19
DWG KIA’s jungler Geon-bu “Canyon” Kim has been confirmed positive for Covid-19 in the second PCR test. However, the star jungler is feeling well and will participate in DWG KIA’s matches this week from an isolated facility. Furthermore, multiple members of the European side Gen.G have also tested positive for the virus, including midlaner Ji-hoon “Chovy” Jeong, head coach Go Dong-bin “Score” Go, and coach Moo-seong “Museong” Kim. Luckily, Gen.G has been placed in the last group and will play all of their remaining games on the final day of the group stage, which is Sunday, October 16, giving the players and coaching staff three more days to rest.
Official Announcement Regarding COVID-19 Cases pic.twitter.com/aa7s5y9vR4
— Gen.G Esports (@GenG) October 13, 2022
Riot release safety guidelines
In response to the circumstance, Riot issued a statement clarifying its policy for any players that test positive for COVID-19. Riot Games’ protocol states that when a participant tests positive but is otherwise healthy enough to compete, they can do so from an isolated facility while their teammates and the opposing team continue to play from the live venue. A substitute player can take the place of an infected player if they are unable to compete.
#Worlds2022 Groups Update: pic.twitter.com/SAUjR6amM4
— LoL Esports (@lolesports) October 12, 2022
It is possible that some game times could also be changed due to this isolation room LAN setting according to the official Riot Games announcement. Since the first round of games in the second half of the group stage has already begun today, some games may need to be moved around in the upcoming days as a result of these unfortunate COVID mishaps.
Header: Riot Games