Worlds 2022 Play-in: Multiple Players Test Positive for COVID-19

Update: Fnatic releases another statement ahead of its Day 1 games

Following Riot Games' update regarding the multiple COVID-19 positive tests at Worlds 2022, Fnatic provided yet another update about the status of its players. It wrote, "Multiple members of the team have tested positive and as such will play from isolation for tonight's matchups."

Fnatic is scheduled to play against Evil Geniuses (EG) and the Chiefs Esports Club on Day 1 of Play-in.

League of Legends Worlds 2022 kicked off on 29th September with the Play-in stage in Mexico City, Mexico. A week before the tournament began, two Fnatic members tested positive for COVID-19, forcing the team to huddle in and make roster additions at the last minute. The COVID-19 pandemic has been wreaking havoc on LANs and other esports events around the world and it seems like Worlds 2022 is no exception. Riot Games released a statement addressing the health and safety of players and staff present at Worlds. It noted that multiple members of several teams tested positive for the virus.

As the broadcast started with the first game, the casters announced that two MAD Lions players and one Isurus player had tested positive for the virus and would be playing the match from an isolated facility.

Riot Games statement addressing COVID-19 cases at Worlds 2022

Riot Games stated that the health and safety of players and staff at Worlds 2022 was its highest priority. It wrote in a statement, “As a COVID-19 safety precaution, all participants are required to participate in a regular testing cadence. During mandatory testing, members of several teams produced a positive result from the COVID test.”

According to Riot Games’ policy, in the event a competitor returns a positive result for COVID-19 but feels well enough to compete and chooses to play, the affected player will play the scheduled match on a LAN network built in the isolation facilities. “The individual who tested positive will participate from an isolated room while their teammates and the opposing team will compete from the venue. The order of matches on a given day is subject to change,” added Riot.

MAD Lions updates the community on the situation

The European squad of MAD Lions wrote on Twitter that two of its players and three other staff produced positive test results during the mandatory COVID-19 testing. It added, “All of them are in good condition and following the direction of healthcare professionals, the players will compete today from an isolated facility to avoid the risk of contagion to the rest of the team.”

MAD Lions’ jungler Javier “Elyoya” Prades and ADC William “UNF0RGIVEN” Nieminen and Isurus’ top laner  Kang “ADD” Geon-mo played the first day of Play-in from the isolation facilities.

Earlier on 29th September, Fnatic shared some good news with its fans as it revealed that both its bot-lane players were testing negative for COVID-19 before the start of the Worlds 2022 Play-in.

Fnatic noted that Elias "Upset" Lipp would play for the team starting with Day 1 whereas its support Zdravets "Hylissang" Iliev Galabov would join the squad for Day 2 of the Play-in.

With the teams traveling to other countries and cities for Worlds 2022, COVID-19 cases are inevitable and it would be interesting to see how the tournament shapes up and how teams adapt to playing around these situations.

Stay updated with the tournament by heading on to  Worlds 2022 Play-in: Teams, Groups, Schedule & More.