Why is MinD_ContRoL out of the Singapore Major for Team Nigma?

Team Nigma will not be playing at full strength in the ONE Esports Singapore Major.

The organization announced that Ivan Borislavov "MinD_ContRoL" Ivanov will not be able to compete in the event after testing positive for COVID-19. The offlaner was unable to attend the team’s boot camp in Jordan due to illness, with a test coming back positive.

“Earlier today, MinD_ContRoL’s test came back and he tested positive...he is doing much better but he will not be joining the team in Singapore...the team is making the necessary adjustments for the major,” Nigma said in a statement.

As a result of the positive test, Nigma coach Roman "rmN-" Paley will be serving as a stand-in for the team. rmN- has been the team’s coach since 2018. He has previously returned to action as a player for the team last year as a stand-in. Before becoming Nigma’s coach, rmN- spent most of his career as either a support or carry, so the move to the offlane is a new one for him.

Nigma’s lineup for the ONE Esports Singapore Major will be the following:

1. Amer "Miracle-" Al-Barkawi
2. Aliwi “w33” Omar
3. Roman "rmN-" Paley
4. Maroun "GH" Merhej
5. Kuro “KuroKy” Salehi Takhasomi

Nigma, Na`Vi players all forced to sit out of Singapore Major

So far, five qualified players have been forced to watch the Singapore Major from home due to positive test results, and that number is likely to rise. Given how traditional esports events have gone to this point, it shouldn’t come as a surprise.

The hardest-hit team is currently Natus Vincere, who last week announced that Bogdan "Iceberg" Vasilenko and Andrii "ALWAYSWANNAFLY" Bondarenko will be unable to attend the Singapore Major, with Andrey "Mag" Chipenko and Roman "RAMZES666" Kushnarev stepping up in their stead. 

Joining Na`Vi and Team Nigma are Quincy Crew and Neon Esports. The group stage-qualified teams will be playing without Arif "MSS" Anwar and John Anthony "Natsumi-" Vargas, respectively.

Playoffs-qualified teams are yet to begin traveling to the major, so the number of players who test positive before the event could rise further from here. That’s worrying given the fact that the ONE Esports Singapore Major will only see teams and players quarantine for two days before they begin competition. Most events competing in “bubble” formats see people isolate for 10 to 14 days prior to play.

The good news is that many of the group stage teams have passed their testing phases already and have made the journey to the Singapore Major. The event begins on March 27 with its wildcard stage.