Chinese esports superstar Uzi announces retirement at the age of 23

The most recognizable Chinese League of Legends Pro League player cited diabetes and shoulder pain as reasons for leaving esports

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Uzi, whose real name is Jian Zihao, is China’s most beloved League of Legends player. (Picture: Riot Games)

Xinmei Shen

Published: 10:00pm, 3 Jun 2020Updated: 10:00pm, 3 Jun 2020

This article originally appeared on ABACUS

At 23 years old, China’s most famous esports player says he can no longer play because of poor health.

Uzi, the Shaquille O'Neal of Chinese esports

In a post on microblogging site Weibo, Uzi said that he has decided to retire after being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes last year. The condition is a result of constant stress, obesity, an irregular diet and staying up late, he said.

“My physical condition doesn’t allow me to keep fighting,” Uzi said in the post. He cited shoulder pain, which has troubled him for years and prompted him to consider retirement as early as 2015, when he was just 18.

To try to improve his health, Uzi said he’s been taking medication over the past six months and gradually changing his daily routine, but it hasn’t worked. He also said the medication has negatively impacted his mental state.

“Due to injuries accumulated over 8 years of high intensity training, at the suggestion of medical professionals, Uzi was advised to rest during the 2020 LPL spring split,” Uzi’s team Royal Never Give Up (RNG) said on Twitter. “After spring a decision was made and we understood and respected his wishes, and will continue to assist him.”

Uzi’s retirement immediately became the top trending topic on Chinese social media platforms Weibo and Zhihu, where many of Uzi’s fans lamented the news. Some said Uzi’s retirement marked the end of their youth.