Uzi injuries may force retirement as RNG battles at Demacia Cup

The future of Royal Never Give Up and its biggest star AD carry Jian “Uzi” Zi-Hao is uncertain, as according to different sources the player might not be able to play in 2020.

Uzi might miss the LPL 2020 Spring Split and possibly the rest of the year. According to former RNG jungler Liu “Mlxg” Shi-Yu, the results of Uzi’s last medical examination are not as hopeful as the team expected. Uzi is resting and focusing on recovering, but his full plans for the next season are uncertain. The player is apparently yet to formally communicate with the team about the situation.

Uzi’s injuries have been an ongoing problem for the past couple of years. The player has been vocal about his condition and how difficult it is for him to play for more than a couple of hours at a time. In a documentary produced by Nike and the LPL, Uzi described the pain that starts around his right shoulder blade and runs all the way down his arm. According to the player, in a previous medical exam, a professional said Uzi’s arms were equivalent to those of someone who was “40 or 50 years old.”

Will injuries force Uzi to retire from RNG?

The situation have forced RNG to use a substitute player through Spring 2019. The team already had to bring in another player to replace Uzi in the Demacia Cup. Former Flash Wolves player Lu “Betty” Yu-Hung is currently the bot lane starter for RNG. The team also added two new junglers and one extra top laner in the offseason.

The new iteration of RNG didn’t have the best start in the Demacia Cup 2019. The team finished the group stage with two victories and two defeats, just enough to make it out to the next stage. RNG is facing Rogue Warriors in the quarterfinals, a team that looked solid through the first part of the event.

RNG is yet to release any official statements regarding Uzi’s situation. The fans speculated that RNG could be in the market for another AD carry that could take over permanently if Uzi decides to retire. The rumors pointed at former World Champion and current free agent Yu “JackeyLove” Wen-Bo as the new RNG member. Another rumor said that JackeyLove would return to Invictus Gaming.

RNG is focusing on the Demacia Cup 2019, and an announcement will likely have to wait until at least the end of the tournament.