Fnatic’s Upset to miss Worlds 2021 Group Stage due to “urgent family matters”

Fnatic’s starting AD Carry Elias “Upset” Lipp will be missing the Group Stage of Worlds 2021 after heading back home to Germany due to “urgent family matters”, the London-based esports organisation said in a statement on Monday (11 October).

According to Fnatic, Upset was "forced to return home" and the organisation requested that the player's “privacy be respected”.

There was no word on whether or not Upset would return to the tournament after this round, with the statement only indicating that the player would "until further notice not start".

With Upset being arguably one of the best players for the team in the 2021 League of Legends European Championship (LEC) Summer Split finals, some fans worry that his departure may affect Fnatic’s performance at Worlds 2021.

Despite this, Fnatic remain confident, and will be bringing in Academy AD Carry Louis “Bean” Schmitz as Upset's substitute during the Group Stage.

“Bean has been preparing with our team the last few weeks in Reykjavik (Iceland, where Worlds 2021 is taking place), and will make his debut as a starter in our Worlds opener vs HLE,” Fnatic's statement read.

For the past year, Bean has represented Fnatic Rising in the NLC (Northern League of Legends Championship), where he is regarded as one of the finest AD Carries outside of the LEC.

Bean is the second player to be an emergency substitute at Worlds 2021, following BYG’s Hsieh "PK" Yu-Ting, who subbed for Chien "Maoan" Mao-An, who got suspended from Worlds after violating a rule on gambling association.

Fnatic will be facing Korea’s Hanwa Life Esports later at 9PM SGT.

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