Somnus Contracts Covid-19 Again, Raises Concerns for the Dota 2 Pro

Lu "Somnus" Yao, along with his former teammates Yang "Chalice" Shenyi and Xu "fy" Linsen, are some of the most prominent players in the Chinese Dota 2 community. Having secured 2nd place at The International 2018 and 3rd place at The International 2019, these legendary players recently reunited to form a formidable team competing in the Dota Pro Circuit (DPC) China 2023 Tour 3: Division I games under the banner of Azure Ray. With an impressive performance thus far, their journey seemed promising. However, a recent setback has dampened their spirits as Somnus, the team's midlane player, has once again contracted Covid-19, as reported by the reliable source CN Dota in a Nutshell. The news has sparked concerns and uncertainty about his condition and the team's upcoming matches in the DPC.

Setback for Azure Ray as Midlane Star Somnus Contracts Covid-19 Again

While Covid-19 may have seemingly faded from the limelight, its presence lingers and continues to disrupt the Dota 2 landscape. In a recent post by CN Dota in a Nutshell, it was revealed that Somnus, the talented midlane player for Azure Ray, has once again fallen victim to the virus. The severity of the infection becomes apparent as the post mentions that Somnus "couldn't even get up from bed" due to a severe fever.

This alarming update suggests that the Covid-19 infection affecting Somnus is not to be taken lightly. However, the post also states that Somnus might make a return in time for the next game, as he still has a "few days to recover”. The uncertainty surrounding Somnus' condition adds an element of suspense to the team's upcoming matches, as fans await his potential recovery and his eventual return to professional games. The player was last infected with the virus in 2022 during The International 11, where many players contracted the virus during the tournament and were required to play from their hotel rooms.

Covid-19 and Dota 2 in the past: The International 11

The intersection of Covid-19 and Dota 2 events has proven to be a tumultuous combination, as seen in the most prestigious event of 2022, The International 2022. The tournament was marred by Covid-19 infections that affected multiple teams, leading to unforeseen consequences. Among the impacted teams was Royal Never Give Up (RNG), whose star midlaner at time was Somnus as well, who tested positive for Covid-19, resulting in the team forfeiting a game against PSG.LGD. The situation worsened when three other members of RNG, Daniel "Ghost" Chan Kok Hong, Yang "Chalice" Shenyi, and Hu "kaka" Liangzhi, also tested positive.

Another team hit by the impact of Covid-19 during The International 2022 was Beastcoast. The South American squad faced a major obstacle as three of their players tested positive for the virus. The news of the infections raised uncertainties about the team's ability to field their full roster for upcoming matches. Despite the setback, Beastcoast had initially shown promise in the tournament, securing victories against Hokori and Evil Geniuses to secure a Top 8 finish.

The recent news of Somnus contracting Covid-19 again has cast a shadow of uncertainty over the Azure Ray team and their upcoming matches in the DPC. Despite their strong performance in the DPC China 2023 Tour 3: Division I, Somnus' illness raises concerns about the team's ability to maintain their momentum without their star midlane player. The severity of Somnus' symptoms, as indicated by his inability to even get out of bed due to severe fever, highlights the seriousness of the virus and its potential impact on professional players.