Updated on October 19, 3:51 p.m. (GMT+8): JD Gaming’s Yagao is now positive.
Updated on October 17, 1:13 p.m. (GMT+8): Additional players from Edward Gaming tested positive.
Updated on October 17, 8:43 a.m. (GMT+8): The entire roster and coaching staff of Royal Never Give Up have been affected.
Updated on October 16, 8:42 a.m. (GMT+8): Additional members of DWG KIA tested positive.
Updated on October 14, 11:20 a.m. (GMT+8): Additional members of DWG KIA and Royal Never Give Up have contracted COVID.
The first half of the Worlds 2022 Group Stage concluded on October 10. After a two day break, the second half of groups will begin on October 12 in the same venue at Hulu Theatre in New York City, USA.
One day before the second half of groups, Edward Gaming, DWG KIA, and Gen.G announced that some players and staff have contracted COVID-19.
According to Riot Games’ policy, when a competitor tests positive but feels well enough to play, they can still compete in schedule matches from a designated LAN network in an isolated facility. Their teammates and the opposing team will continue to play from the venue.
Riot Games has been adopting this policy across their esports titles, including Valorant. The recently concluded Valorant Champions that took place in September last month in Istanbul, Turkey, also saw some competitors test positive during the tournament.
- How JD Gaming coach Homme brought out the best in 369 when no one else could
- Gen.G Chovy: ‘I want to be the textbook example for aspiring mid laners’
Edward Gaming, DWG KIA, Gen.G affected by COVID-19 positive results going into the second half of the Worlds 2022 Group Stage
Edward Gaming was the first among Group Stage teams to announce that mid laner Lee “Scout” Ye-chan had tested positive. He was confirmed to be COVID positive after a second PCR test.
He is feeling well, and has already been isolated, the organization added. He will continue to train and compete with the team from the isolation room.
Four hours after EDG made the announcement, DWG KIA posted that junlger Kim “Canyon” Geon-bu had tested positive on Twitter.
Gen.G also gave an update in the same hour, stating that mid laner Jeong “Chovy” Ji-hoon, head coach Go “Score” Dong-bin, and coach Kim “Museong” Moo-seong are down with COVID, but feel well enough to continue competing.
T1 CEO Joe Marsh went on Twitter to assure fans that the LCK second seed are currently testing negative, and wishes other teams affected a speedy recovery.
On October 14, DWG KIA bot laner Seo “deokdam” Dae-gil tested positive.
On October 15, DWG KIA announced that substitute top laner Noh “Burdol” Tae-yoon and coach Park “Bubbling” Jun-hyeong tested positive.
On October 16, Royal Never Give Up confirmed on Weibo that the entire roster and coaching staff are down with COVID.
EDG’s Weibo account updated that jungler Zhao “Jiejie” Li-Jie and substitute jungler Yu “JunJia” Chun-Chia are positive as of October 17.
JD Gaming announced that mid laner Zeng “Yagao” Qi has tested positive for COVID-19 on October 18.
Watch the 2022 World Championship matches live on Riot Games’ official channels on Twitch and YouTube.
READ MORE: Viper explains why Edward Gaming struggled this year, and how he mastered Mandarin quickly
