MinD ContRol of Nigma Gets COVID-19; rmN to Stand In at the Major

MinD ContRol of Nigma Gets COVID-19; rmN to Stand In at the Major

MinD ContRol of Nigma Gets COVID-19; rmN to Stand In at the Major

The European Dota 2 team Nigma has announced that they will compete at the upcoming Singapore Major with a replacement, as its offlane player Ivan "MinD_ContRoL" Ivanov was tested positive for COVID-19. His place will be temporarily taken by the team’s coach Roman "rmN-" Paley.

The organization’s statement reads that MinD ContRol has been feeling unwell for some time now, and for this reason he was not present at the team’s bootcamp. While he is getting better, the player will not recover in time for the major. The team will make “necessary adjustments” for the major.

This is not the first time for rmN to stand-in for the team – earlier last year he replaced the team’s captain Kuro "KuroKy" Salehi Takhasomi at several online events, including OGA Dota PIT Season 2 and OMEGA League Europe Immortal Division, where the team placed 1st and 3rd respectively. However rmN lacks experience in playing on offlane, so it is unknown how the players will perform at the event.

Earlier Team Nigma placed 3rd in the European DPC Upper Division, thus advancing to the major’s Wild Card stage. In their first match, which is scheduled for March 27th, 3:00 AM UK time, they will face Team Liquid.

Team Nigma are not the first team whose player got a positive test for COVID-19 – earlier similar announcements were made by NAVI and Quincy Crew. Reportedly, even more teams will have to compete with replacements.

Nigma at the Singapore Major:

  • Amer "Miracle-" Al-Barkawi
  • Aliwi "w33" Omar
  • Roman "rmN-" Paley (stand-in)
  • Maroun "GH" Merhej
  • Kuro "KuroKy" Salehi Takhasomi