Tyler Leaves Liquid

Team Liquid is a family team. Liquid has supported me through thick and thin. Liquid has supported me despite acting out and Liquid has supported me despite having no results to turn in. And I know and can confidently tell you that Liquid would have supported me until the day I decided to hang up my mouse and keyboard. I've truly been treated like a family would treat one of its members.

Even though Liquid has provided me an ideal team environment, I'm convinced that some time away from a team environment is just what I need. If I'm ever going to be successful again then I must rediscover the intrinsic rewards of playing StarCraft. I haven't felt intrinsically rewarded since Brood War and my results reflect that. What I'm hoping to gain by leaving is a change that enables the productive mindset I used to have.

Leaving Liquid means I'll have less support and opportunities as a progamer, but the essentials for success will remain available to me as an independent player. I will practice and stream. I will play in online tournaments and in qualifiers for offline tournaments. My goals remain the same as ever. Until I'm able to put in a proper and sustained effort, I have no intention of quitting.

I want to thank Liquid for the consistency and variety of support given to me throughout my SC2 career. It has been rough and I haven't been able to give much back but they've always had faith in me and given me their time and attention beyond what our professional relationship required. It simply feels natural to care for and want to get the best out of all your fellow Liquid members. I'm happy and grateful to have been a part of it and wish them all the best.

Although some of the newer SC2 fans may not remember, Tyler is someone who has seen and done it all. He was one of the best foreign Brood War players of all time, a TSL champion, a pioneer in Korea, and a dear friend. I'm proud to be able to say he did these things as Liquid`NonY.

I won't deny that it wasn't always easy to support Tyler in the battle he fights with himself. I'd like to think we tried our best, but I still wish we had been able to do more. I want fans to know that there was a period in which he asked not to receive any salary, because it was a constant reminder of having something to live up to. On top of everything else he had to deal with in his life, the sense of responsibility he put on himself in StarCraft lead to an unhealthy amount of pressure.

Today's news doesn't come out of the blue, as it's well known he has has struggled with these issues for a long time. By leaving Liquid he is going to try to regain the joy of playing he once had. He needs to go back to the basics. It is a decision I understand and support, and I hope the rest of you do so as well.

We wish you the best, Nony, and know that our door will always be open to you.

- Victor