Azael and Sjokz test positive for covid as T1 advance to the finals

Sjokz and Azael are Covid’s latest victims, despite having a week between every part of the knockout stage. With so many precaution measures, you would think Covid would be under control. Nearly 30% of the players in attendance were hampered by the disease during the Group Stage. Not it’s the on-air talent pool suffering.

Azael sidelined for semifinals between T1 and JDG 

Despite being scheduled to cover it, Isaac “Azael” Bentley missed the first semifinals series. Due to a Covid infection, he wasn’t able to cover the match between T1 and JDG. A positive test result sidelined the famous LCS color caster from his biggest opportunity to date. The timing couldn’t be worse. The former World of Warcraft pro has contracted Covid at the worst possible moment. Just as the on-air talent for the Grand Finals was due to be announced. Instead, Mark “MarkZ” Zimmerman stepped in his place. This was his first casting experience on the knockout stage at international events. 

Sjokz also tested positive for Covid

But it wasn’t just Azael. The main interviewer at the 2022 League of Legends World Championship and host of the LEC, Eefje “Sjokz” Depoortere has also tested positive for Covid. While she is guaranteed to miss both semifinal matches this weekend, her status for the Grand Finals is still very much up in the air. Losing both Sjokz and Azael is a major blow for Riot’s on air talent pool.

T1 beat JDG as Sjokz and Azael are replaced

The World Championship crown is going back to Korea in 2022, as the last LPL representatives get eliminated. T1 bested the reigning LPL Champions JDG in the first leg of the semifinals, with a 3-1 win in dominating fashion. While all storylines pointed to the top lane clash of world-class laners being the deciding factor, it was T1’s bot lane that dictated the pace of the series. 

T1 played into JDG’s hands in game one, losing a 40-minute nail bitter that ended with an Elder Dragon.  Quickly realizing their mistake, T1 switched to a map-oriented team composition, highlighted by Faker’s signature Ryze pick. T1 were creating advantages everywhere, with JDG always being a step behind. The bot lane of Keria and Gumayushi proved that last year’s semifinal loss was just due to inexperience, as they dominated every single game. Getting kills without assistance, creating pressure and advantages which bled over to the entire map, with the last game serving as the best example. The Jhin and Karma picks did little to stabilize the matchup, with the rest of the map unraveling as T1 closed out the series with 30 kills in just the last map.

Header: Twitter/ LoL Esports