OpTic Gaming, 100 Thieves to use special COVID-19 isolation facilities at VCT Champions 2022

The ongoing VCT Champions 2022 Istanbul has seen a rise in the number of positive COVID-19 cases among the participating teams and coaches. On September 1, OpTic Gaming head coach Chet "Chet" Singh took to Twitter to disclose that he was down with COVID-19.

The situation was revealed hours before the commencement of VCT Champions Istanbul Day 2. Chet will be allowed to participate in the tournament from an isolation facility.

The 2022 edition of the most prestigious league tournament in Valorant esports kicked off on August 31, with teams belonging to Group A participating in the opening matches. Hours before the Group B games on September 1, Riot Games announced the presence of backup facilities for COVID-19-affected players.

OpTic Gaming isn't the only team affected. Soon after Riot Games' announcement of the isolation facilities, 100 Thieves' general manager Daniel Kapadia revealed that four of their players, along with two coaches, were also COVID-positive.

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Riot Games to provide isolation facilities for COVID-positive players in ongoing VCT Champions 2022

Several community members lauded Riot Games' efforts to ensure that even COVID-positive players could compete at the event.

Notable esports journalist Jake Lucky pointed out how some other organizations don't account for such situations beforehand, leading to affected players having to back out.

In an official statement, Riot Games said:

"Our policy states that in the event a competitor returns a positive result for COVID-19, but feels well enough to compete and chooses to play, the affected player will play the scheduled match on a LAN network built in the isolation facilities. The individual who tested positive will participate from an isolated room while their teammates and the opposing team will compete from the venue."

Only those players affected by COVID-19 will be able to avail of the isolation facilities. Others, regardless of being teammates or opponents, will participate from the venue itself.

OpTic Gaming faced BOOM Esports yesterday, right after the first match of the VCT Champions' Group B. Competing from the isolation facility, OpTiC's Chet participated as coach while the rest of the team played at the venue.

OpTic Gaming will face Group B opponents LOUD today for a chance to qualify for the playoffs, while 100 Thieves will compete against Fnatic in their first Group D matchup on September 3.