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Fnatic will be without star Elias “Upset” Lipp as the 2021 LoL World Championship main stage opens today. Upset headed home to Germany due to “an urgent family matter”, the European team announced on Sunday evening via Twitter.
Upset “will until further notice not start” this tournament, the statement says. In his place, Louis “Bean” Schmitz from Fnatic Rising was called up at the last minute. Bean will make his debut on the Worlds stage as Europe's second seed go up against South Korean team Hanwha Life Esports in Group C.
The sudden roster swap may yet dash the hopes of the Fnatic faithful. After all, he was a crucial part of their successful run to the LEC Summer Split finals. He was also key to a rebuilt and stabilized squad this year after Fnatic's rocky off-season. Back in late 2020, long-time icon Martin “Rekkles” Larsson exited the organization after five years.
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Despite Upset's absence, Fnatic's statement assures fans that they will be doing their “utmost to represent Europe” at the World Championship.
Substitute ADC Bean is also seen as one of the top players in his position. According to the announcement, he has been “preparing with the team” for the past weeks. But sources at Dot Esports say that the Academy player has only scrimmed with the main squad once.
With no return date in sight for the AD Carry, it remains to be seen whether Upset will get to feature at all in this year's World Championship. After the tournament opener against Korea's fourth seed, Fnatic faces China's Royal Never Give Up on Tuesday and Hong Kong's PSG Talon the day after. The group stage runs until next Monday.
