Multiple FaZe Clan players have tested positive for COVID-19 and the team will not play on stage at the VALORANT Champions Tour North American Last Chance Qualifier, according to FaZe players and management.
According to the team’s manager, Karim “infamous” Mahmoud, two players tested positive and will have to quarantine in their rooms. Those two players also retested as negative he also said.
“These Covid tests have an 80/20 chance for false results. In what world is that acceptable?” Infamous said on Twitter. “We want to play on stage more than any team at this event, but we’re simply not able to now. Regardless, it will all work out.”
The two who were positive retested as negative but as per county rules, two of our players have to quarantine in their rooms. Just sucks to see this LAN fall apart like this, I know both teams would prefer to play on Stage no matter what.
— infamous (@infamousbtw) October 13, 2021
FaZe are scheduled to play against Rise in the first match of Day 2 at the NA LCQ. Per their Twitters, Corey “corey” Nigra and Andrej “babybay” Francisty are the two players who tested positive and then negative on their second go around.
Riot Games has yet to release a statement on the matter, but according to Rise player Derrek “Derrek” Ha the players may get to return to their home’s and play on their own PC’s.
“Nothing against FaZe boys, but it’s kinda f***ed,” Derrek said on Twitter. None of them are playing on stage and are able to go home on NASA PCs while ONLY 4 members of Rise are on stage on LCS PCs?? (Only two FaZe members tested positive).”
Nothing against faze boys but it’s kinda fucked , none of them are playing on stage and are able to go home on NASA pc’s while ONLY 4 members of rise are on stage on LCS pc’s?? (Only 2 faze members tested positive).
— Derrek (@DerrekOW) October 13, 2021
The tournament has been plagued by multiple server and technical issues ranging from lag to broadcast stuttering. Multiple players have also complained about the computers being used at the tournament and are now pointing out that FaZe no longer have to play on suboptimal setups and can use their personal computers, thus creating an advantage over the players on stage.
Rise player Ryan “Shanks” Ngo also had false positive tests before this recent wave and also tested positive this morning, according to his Twitter.
“I DID ANOTHER TEST AND IT’S NEGATIVE,” he said online. “PLEASE, PLEASE JUST LET ME PLAY ON STAGE LA COUNTY.”
https://twitter.com/Shanks_TTV/status/1448317125089587200?s=20
According to Shanks, his entire team retested negative and will play on the LCQ stage today.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
