Chinese League of Legends player Uzi to take ‘indefinite’ break
Bilibili Gaming has announced that League of Legends bot lane specialist Jian “Uzi” Zi-Hao would take an “indefinite” break from competitive play. Bilibili Gaming announced the decision on their Weibo handle.
Bilibili Gaming said the decision was made in full co-operation” with Uzi. It was said that there was an issue regarding the “synergy” between Uzi and his new team. The announcement was made only two days prior to the opening match of the League of Legends Pro League Spring Playoffs.
“After a mutual agreement, Uzi will take a break from pro play. It is mainly due to the synergy problem with the team,” Hupu Esports partially translated Bilibili Gaming’s announcement, which was made in Chinese.
According to another translation by Google Translate, Bilibili Gaming said that the “overall progress has not been satisfactory”. They also said that Uzi’s indefinite break would give him to “rest for a period of time and improve his condition”.
Uzi returned to the competitive scene as one of two starting AD Carries for his new team. The other AD carry is rookie Chiu “Doggo” Tzu-Chuan. Bilibili Gaming’s strategy was to split time between Uzi and Doggo across the split, giving Uzi more freedom should his health worsen again. However, Doggo has been starting the majority of Bilibili Gaming’s games.
Short comeback
Uzi just returned from an almost two-year retirement in early 2022. He announced his retirement earlier in June 2020 after eight years of playing in a competitive setting. Since his debut with Royal Club’s League of Legend team, now Royal Never Give Up, in 2012 he had played 683 games, Royal Never Give Up said the reason behind his retirement was injuries.
“As of today, LPL0006 @UziRNG will officially retire,” Royal Never Give Up announced back then. “Uzi was not only the heart and soul of RNG, but also an icon in the esports world as a whole. From a teenager onwards he never gave up and worked as hard as he could to be the best he could in his role, he inspired many.
“Due to injuries accumulated over eight years of high intensity training, at the suggestion of medical professionals, Uzi was advised to rest during the 2020 LPL Spring Split. After Spring, a decision was made, and we understood and respected his wishes, and will continue to assist him.”
Uzi was listed on the RNG roster until Spring of 2020. The player was then left out of the team’s lineup for the Summer. He was replaced by Lu ‘Betty’ Yu-Hung, a former Flash Wolves AD carry.
“This half year I have been slowly changing my schedule, went on a diet and take have been taking medicine to [lose] weight, but [things have not] changed,” he said, on his Weibo account in 2020, according to a translation. “The doctor also said that if I continue serious complications will soon appear…my physical condition doesn’t allow me to continue to fight on any longer.
“I would like to thank my fans for their support and company over the years. Thank you for cheering me on silently, encouraging me, and being my strongest supporters over the years.”
