The world of SMITE esports lost one of their biggest personalities last week with the passing of John Finch, a commentator and pundit known for his involvement with the game. Finch, as he was known in the scene, was only 28 years old when he lost his life, with the cause of death as yet unreleased, but reported as "sudden" by those close to the situation.

Finch’s passing was announced by SMITE developer Hi-Rez’s CEO Stewart Chisam on Sunday, May 23, to an immediate outpouring of grief from the community. The league also took a hiatus, canceling play for an indefinite period going forward to give those affected time to process the news.

Graham "Hinduman" Hadfield was the man who went public on the SMITE esports page with the above statement, where he paid tribute to Finch and gave a short explanation as to why the league would be taking a break to deal with the news. On his personal page, he also shared Finch’s original application, stating that the confidence with which his now-departed friend applied was in no way misplaced.

Hi-Rez staff were quick to share their memories of a caster and personality that clearly had a huge impact on the game, as well as the people who worked with him, and video shows a man who was both happy to be working in esports and a genuine delight to be around. The clip below, taken on his birthday, demonstrates how beloved he was at his workplace, and also how infectious his laugh could be.

His arrival in the scene was as part of the Hi-Rez "reality" show run by the company back in 2017, where hopefuls from the scene were invited to show off what they could offer as SMITE casters. While Finch didn’t win the show, his obvious talent and charisma meant he became a part of the scene despite not coming out on top, and his application video shows the incredible natural talent he was able to call upon.

There is no news at this time as to when the league will return. John Finch leaves behind a legacy in the game that clearly touched many, many fans and will be remembered for his positive impact on the scene. SMITE pro Alec "fineokay" Fonzo probably summed up Finch’s legacy best:

Thanks to Jacob Wolf of Dot Esports for assistance with this piece