Imperial cancel European bootcamp as two players test positive for COVID-19

According to Globo Esporte, the players in question are Lincoln "⁠fnx⁠" Lau and Lucas "⁠LUCAS1⁠" Teles.

Imperial have canceled their bootcamp in Belgrade, Serbia, after two of their players — reportedly fnx and LUCAS1 — tested positive for COVID-19. The Brazilian roster was set to play in Europe for two weeks in an effort to prepare for the final Regional Major Ranking (RMR) tournament in South America, Tribo to Major, following the addition of LUCAS1 in mid-August.

In a statement, the organisation confirms the infection of two of their players, stating that they both contracted the virus in the past and tested positive in an RT-PCR test ahead of their flight to Europe. The statement goes on to say that both players are asymptomatic and in good health, and that the decision to cancel the bootcamp was made for the safety of everyone involved as any retest in case of a false positive would take another week.

The practice against higher-level opposition would have provided a much-needed boon for the the Brazilian team, who have limited practice under their belts, with both fnx and LUCAS1 having joined in the past two months.

Imperial currently reside in third place in the South American RMR rankings with 840 points, well below BOOM at 1600 and Isurus at 1200. Only the top team from the South American RMR table will earn a spot in ESL One Rio, with 2500 points on offer to the winner of Tribo to Major, which will run between September 18 and October 11.