One of the most well recognized names in Warcraft III, the French Human player, Yoan 'ToD' Merlo, has announced his retirement from professional gaming.
He told Fragster.de: “Today I've decided to end my Warcraft career, after playing for many years I think it's time to move on! I'd like to deny the rumors going around that I didn't get paid.”
"There are many reasons that led to my decisions. I have a lot of plans in hand right now. I plan to stay in Korea for a while and learn Korean, but I will not continue my career when Starcraft 2 comes out, nor will I play DotA or poker" revealed ToD to Replays.Net.
The French player was notorious for his typical bad manner but could always back it up with his dominant play style. Winning his first major international title in WEG Masters in 2006 after beating former team-mate in Four Kings Manuel 'Grubby' Schenkhuizen 3-1 in the Final, he went on to win the Extreme Masters Season 1 Finals, Blizzard Worldwide Invitational 2007, IEF Masters, and WGT 2008 Global Final. A WC3 Player of the Year Award was issued to him to crown his golden year in 2007.
Merlo has revealed many times that he has very little motivation to practice or even play recently and the retirement may have been sparked by Wicked eSports decision to release his team-mates Mykhaylo ‘HoT’ Novopashyn and Yuri ‘Sting’ Sheremetov due to bad results. It is still uncertain whether ToD will continue to participate in the NGL-ONE Solo league and he is still under contract to play under Wicked although Wicked has stated that "We would not work against the player’s will should he eye elsewhere."
Whether you hate him or love him, ToD’s retirement will be a huge blow to the scene which is already struggling lately with the economy problems and the fact more and more players are calling it quits.
We wish Yoan the best of luck and hope for a return one day maybe in the form of Starcraft II or even just commentating.
Interview with Replays.net:
Replays.Net: Why retire?
ToD: many reasons.
Replays.Net: What are your plans after retirement?
ToD: In a lot of future plans, I intend to continue in South Korea alone, a period of time to learn Korean, but I would also like to engage in new sports, martial arts? This may be a good choice.
Replays.Net: Do you plan to play Starcraft 2 or DOTA?
ToD: I do not.
Replays.Net: Do you consider playing poker, like Elky?
ToD: no.
Replays.Net: Will you continue to follow eSports?
ToD: of course, but maybe not as much as before.
Replays.Net: Which player do you admire the most?
ToD: My answer is always Insomnia, the most humble and the most polite player.
Replays.Net: the most memorable game?
ToD: WEG2006 Masters semi-final defeat to beat Sky and Grubby.
Replays.Net: the most memorable time.
ToD: I will never forget my 4K teammates and my experience in Korea
Replays.Net: Any words for the fans?
ToD: Thank you all very much in these years of support for me, maybe in the future we will meet once again.
Replays.Net: Why retire?
ToD: many reasons.
Replays.Net: What are your plans after retirement?
ToD: In a lot of future plans, I intend to continue in South Korea alone, a period of time to learn Korean, but I would also like to engage in new sports, martial arts? This may be a good choice.
Replays.Net: Do you plan to play Starcraft 2 or DOTA?
ToD: I do not.
Replays.Net: Do you consider playing poker, like Elky?
ToD: no.
Replays.Net: Will you continue to follow eSports?
ToD: of course, but maybe not as much as before.
Replays.Net: Which player do you admire the most?
ToD: My answer is always Insomnia, the most humble and the most polite player.
Replays.Net: the most memorable game?
ToD: WEG2006 Masters semi-final defeat to beat Sky and Grubby.
Replays.Net: the most memorable time.
ToD: I will never forget my 4K teammates and my experience in Korea
Replays.Net: Any words for the fans?
ToD: Thank you all very much in these years of support for me, maybe in the future we will meet once again.
Links
Fragster.de - Source
