Team Royal Never Give Up (RNG), LPL’s 4th seed, managed to get through the group stage while suffering the effects of COVID-19.
A statement 3 days ago from the Chinese team reported four (4) of the players from the roster had tested positive for COVID-19. As per Riot’s COVID policy, the team was allowed to continue albeit playing under isolated conditions.
RNG ANNOUNCEMENT pic.twitter.com/LXuq2wqBDH
— Royal Never Give Up (@RNG) October 13, 2022
From RNG’s initial statement, these were the players that tested positive:
- Toplaner Chen “Breathe” Chen
- Jungler Yangwei “Wei” Yan
- Midlaner Yuanhao “Xiaohu” Li
- Support Sen-Ming “Ming” Shi
However, a recent update from the team stated that their botlaner Chen “GALA” Wei and substitute Support Liu “Bunny” Wen-Kang also contracted COVID-19 yesterday, forcing the entire roster to play in isolation until further notice.
According to the team’s Weibo, the players were experiencing moderate to severe symptoms like muscle pain and coughing. Pictures of the players have also circulated around the social media platform regarding their physical state.
According to @RNG manager, all of RNG members has such symptoms of Covid.
Xiaohu: fatigue
Breathe: severe fatigue
Gala: dry cough, dry throat (PCR negative)
Wei: sore throat
Ming: early Covid symptoms
Tabe and Xiaobai: mild fever pic.twitter.com/jRx5BaeO9c
— LoL Context-Chan (@LoLContextChan) October 14, 2022
Additionally, the outbreak was not just limited to players as RNG coaches Boqin “Tabe” Wang and Zhu “KenZhu” Kai came out with a positive COVID test as announced on social media.
The final #Worlds2022 Group Stage standings! pic.twitter.com/awI1ZtAjeE
— LoL Esports (@lolesports) October 17, 2022
Despite their conditions, RNG maintained their dominant status as major contenders in their respective games and advanced to the quarterfinals after only losing to fellow juggernaut Gen.G twice in the knockout stage.
Though qualifying for the quarterfinals, the team has reportedly cut practice times and not participated in scrims to accommodate the player’s health The team is set to go against T1 in the 2nd match of the quarterfinals stage on October 21, Friday.