"He was never able to replicate the motivation and the performances to match the 2006-2007 years"
It’s sometimes hard to realise just how long ToD has been in the scene, “ToD was a top player when I was still a newbie,” said June “Lyn” Park, “I always wanted to play against him." He has almost become part of the Warcraft III furniture, someone whose retirement should not be tagged to, but every player must bow out sometimes. At least ToD leaves the stage with a medal collection worthy of the years spent playing.
The pinnacle of ToD’s career is undoubtably his time in Four Kings, after the dissolution of arguably the greatest Warcraft III team in its history, he was never able to replicate the motivation and the performances to match the 2006-2007 years in Mousesports, Gravitas or WICKED. During those golden years he won $92,305 in individual events including a $30,000 prize cheque for WEG Masters where he crushed his Human rival Xiaofeng “Sky” Li 3-0 in the semis, before beating his team-mate Manuel “Grubby” Schenkhuizen 3-1 in the Grand Final.

ToD voiced his opinion at the time stating he believed it was bad mannered as Moon could have finished the game beforehand. Nevertheless ToD was a big game player, able to topple even the illustrious fifth race, and throughout his career rarely fell out of the top 2 European players.
It is difficult to pinpoint a specific strategy that ToD contributed given his close connections with Xiaofeng “Sky” Li from World Elite, even the pro players that surround him were unable to come up with the answer. “I do not think he has something like that,” said former Four Kings team-mate Sebastian “FuRy” Pesic, “because towers and steam tanks are so widespread, it is not a Tod-specific strategy. I think he will be most known for always standing up for his opinion, and never taking shit from anyone if he feels something is wrong or unfair.”
"Nevertheless ToD was a big game player, able to topple even the illustrious fifth race"
ToD always walked a fine line between whining and standing for what he believed was right, from the outside it seemed childish but from the inside some players believe he helped to improve conditions. “His attitude towards conditions and how it helped other players get better conditions and support from the organisers of the tournaments is obvious,” said Mykaelo “HoT” Novopashyn, his former team-mate at WICKED eSports. “His demands made organisers think twice before presenting something that was below standards.”

He supposedly wished to phone Manuel “Grubby” Schenkhuizen to ask his opinion but the admins gave him only one minute to decide and ToD did not back down announcing his refusal to participate. He made a similar decision in the Professional Gaming League in China in the same year, forfeiting the consolation final after air conditioning was not provided.
However, he was not all mouth amassing over $122,000 in his five-year career in prize money alone, but it is more his attitude that will be his legacy than his prize money or rankings. ToD was notorious for speaking his mind, no matter if the consequences were reduced prize money, disqualifications, penalty points or losing favours with his peers.
" We are used to everyone keeping their heads down and getting on with their games, ToD was at least someone who stood out from the crowd. "
“He’ll be remembered for someone who always stood up for himself or his team,” said Ivica “Zeus” Markovic, “he shared his opinion without caring what others will think of him.” Is this a good characteristic? “Well given there are many people who are two-faced, very friendly in public attention but then the complete opposite somewhere else, then yes. I prefer someone who is honest.”ToD, despite being a figure that “is not like everyone else, you either love him or you hate him” according to Zeus, was someone who was to be taken at face value. In a scene where we are used to everyone keeping their heads down and getting on with their games, ToD was at least someone who stood out from the crowd.

Near the end of his career he seemed to change his attitude towards the community; Solo commentating in Korea, writing blogs, streaming his games live through an Asian provider for the public to watch and being more open to giving interviews, it would seem it had dawned on him that he had perhaps not given back to the community as much as he could have.
"His legacy will clearly be his attitude; which although brash at times, was honest, direct and unforgettable."
This could also be linked to his reduced motivation for professional play, which was one of his reasons for calling it a day on a very successful career, but a change in attitude was clearly evident over the course of the last year or so. He allegedly said he would not be returning for Starcraft 2 or Poker, which could mean this is the last we will see of the Frenchman, but who knows.
ToD lived the progamer lifestyle, travelled the world, enjoyed international success, beat the top players in their prime, but his legacy will clearly be his attitude; which although brash at times, was honest, direct and unforgettable.
--
[title image from GosuGamers]

Malystryx
- Former Razer Editor & SK Gaming Editor-in-Chief
English Teacher at Shandong University, Jinan, China.
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