As far as reasons for missing an event go, this is one we can forgive.

Even if it is as wildly prestigious as the BLAST World Final, the event everyone definitely tries their hardest for.

In fairness, it should be a little bit more serious this year, by virtue of not being in Abu Dhabi and not being after the Major when teams are already dead or playing with stand-ins - well, except Vitality, obviously.

mezii is set to miss BLAST World Final to witness the birth of his first child, which if we had to explain in CS terms, is as unmissable as FaZe vs NAVI on the big stage. In his stead comes the immortal JACKZ, who is as reliable a soldier as Vitality could wish for.

It’s a shame to see a player as likable and malleable as JACKZ reduced to being just a stand-in every so often, but he could make a great career as a hire-a-player option, like a hitman or… Tony Pulis.

mezii has become something of a brick wall runner for Vitality in recent times, being used more like a battering ram and doing the jobs nobody else wants to do, like Mr. Muscle, and that’s something JACKZ will also have no problem doing.

It’s another year of one of the best in the world having stand-ins for World Final, but this is an acceptable excuse - and at least it’s not the Major.

Congratulations mezii!