BLG Beichuan to take competitive break due to physical injuries

BiliBili Gaming (BLG) has officially confirmed that Yang “Beichuan” Ling will be missing several upcoming LPL matches as he undergoes medical treatment for aggravated neck and shoulder pain. The club will be supporting him through his rehabilitation, as Beichuan will not be traveling with the team for the foreseeable future.

BLG Beichuan diagnosed with Cervical Vertebrae and Shoulder Pain

The announcement came from BiliBili Gaming themselves, who made an official statement on Weibo: “We regret to inform everyone that due to worsening neck and shoulder pain, player Beichuan has recently undergone medical examination and has been advised to undergo a period of regular treatment. In order to prioritize his health, and after communication with the club, Beichuan will not be traveling with the team for several upcoming short-term matches, so that he can fully focus on his recovery”.

The post also came with a radiology report to prove Beichuan’s physical conditions: “Mild partial tear of the left supraspinatus tendon and coracoacromial ligament, small amount of subcoracoid bursal effusion, small amount of joint effusion in the shoulder joint capsule” (“左侧冈上肌肌腱及喙胘上韧带轻度不全损伤，喙突下滑囊少量积液，肩关节囊少量积液”). While there is no major structural damage, the report suggests inflammation from the overuse of the shoulder, a common issue encountered in athletes and esports players.

Beichuan’s downward trajectory after joining BLG

Initially picked up as a replacement for jungler Wei, Beichuan had a honeymoon phase during the LPL Split 2, which led to BLG finishing in the top two in the league and taking part in the Mid-Season Invitational and Esports World Cup (EWC).

While he was able to stabilize the team’s performance, Beichuan struggled to raise the ceiling and was often one of the weaker links on the squad. The player struggled when facing the best junglers in the world, and the loss against G2 Esports at the EWC was the nail in the coffin for the player.

Right after the end of the tournament last month, BLG announced former LEC jungler and MAD Lions player Zhao “Shad0w” Zhi-Qiang as a new jungler for the team. Since the start of the split, the latter has been the starting jungler for the lineup and has since secured four wins at the start of the LPL Split 3, including wins against contenders such as Top Esports and Anyone’s Legend.

With the team looking stronger, Beichuan’s worsening physical conditions couldn’t have come at a worse time from an individual perspective. If the team were to clearly perform better with the new jungle pickup, the chances of seeing him step on Summoner’s Rift might be slim, just like it happened last year towards the end of the season, when Wei took over Xun’s place in the LPL Playoffs.

“The club will continue to provide full support for Beichuan’s treatment. We deeply understand that a player’s physical well-being is the foundation of a professional career. The club remains committed to helping our players manage occupational injuries and extend their careers. We wish Beichuan a speedy recovery and hope he can return to the team smoothly after this short break to continue fighting alongside us in the upcoming matches,” the club added.

Note: The statement was originally published in Chinese and has been translated into English.