League of Legends pro player Jian “Uzi” Zi-hao has announced his retirement from the scene. The popular ADC most recently played for the team of Royal Never Give Up (RNG), but he is throwing in the towel after eight years. This announcement comes after medical advice given due to chronic injuries.
RNG posted the news on their Twitter account Wednesday morning. “Uzi was not only the heart and soul of RNG, but also an icon in the esports world as a whole.” The 23-year-old player has a long history in esports, having been a part of the pro scene since 2012. Between 2014 and 2015, he joined several other organizations for a short period, ultimately ending up with RNG.
Uzi, thank you for all the great moments you wrote in League history for the past 8 years, we hope to see you around 👋
Uzi 谢谢你8年为联盟带来的精彩时刻，希望能与你江湖再见
— TSM FTX (@TSM) June 3, 2020
Apart from being one of League of Legends‘ most recognizable players, Uzi is known as one of the game’s most highly-skilled players of all time. At 16, he quickly rose to fame in China and eventually made his name known throughout the world. His fame is accompanied by several achievements, such as winning multiple LPL Splits, the 2018 Asian Games, and Mid-Season Invitational.
In 2018, he was also offered an endorsement deal with athletic clothing brand Nike. This included a collaboration between him and professional basketball player Lebron James. As part of the partnership, Uzi helped campaign a TV series that highlighted how the NBA brings social change to the world.
Unable to continue playing
Unfortunately, with strenuous practice came irreversible injuries. Uzi has suffered hand and shoulder injuries that largely affected his ability to perform. Last January, he took a month-long break due to these chronic injuries, forcing him to miss two LPL games. Uzi also shared with his fans on Weibo that he has other health issues. His list includes “chronic stress, obesity, irregular diet, staying up late and other reasons…” Additionally, he has been diagnosed with Type-2 diabetes, despite his now-healthy habits.
Towards the end of the note, Uzi thanks all of his fans for their dedication over the years. Although he has retired, he shows interest in continuing his work within esports. “I am still part of rng,” he says, “and will walk with rng in the future.”
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