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Team Liquid's (TL) Nabil “Nivera” Benrlitom has tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) Champions Berlin, which starts tomorrow, December 1. Reports also say that he will still be able to play for TL at the tournament. However, Riot Games has not officially confirmed Nivera's eligibility to compete at VCT Champions and there are currently no clear guidelines about how to proceed given a positive COVID result.
Comparatively, in other sporting leagues around the world, a COVID diagnosis has often meant that sidelining a player until recovery. Since Champions is a LAN or in-person event, the threat of transmission remains high. It also raises a problem on how to allow Nivera to play on stage without risking people's safety.
TL is one of the strong contenders at VCT Champions, in no small part thanks to Nivera and his brother Adil “ScreaM” Benrlitom. Should the need arise, the team will have to bring up a sub player on extremely short notice. While TL will rue missing the services of Nivera if in case he does have to sit out, fans will understand the need to prioritize safety at this time. Riot will also have to make quick judgment calls should more COVID-19 cases arise among the squads at Champions.
This would not be the first time that the pandemic has affected a VCT event. The NA VCT Last Chance Qualifiers had to be postponed several times after several players tested positive, with the competition eventually shifting online and remote.
VCT Champions will unfold very soon, and teams will hope to put up their best performances in chasing the inaugural VCT champions trophy while keeping safe.
