Yoan "ToD" Merlo will be returning to France after being unsuccessful in obtaining a Visa. Due to ROOT's limited operations in Europe, we have agreed to release ToD as a free agent.
It's been a pleasure playing for ROOT. I've played with the team for around 3 months, but due to lack of a visa i'm returning to France where ROOT cannot support me as much. I still want to attend EU tournaments but ROOT is mainly focused on US market, so we mutually decided to go our on ways, on good terms of course. My time in ROOT has probably been my happiest playing SC2, and I wish them all the best of luck. Special thanks to CatZ and ROOT for giving me a great team while I was in the US. I'll continue to be friends and "hang out" with them online and on skype so to speak. I look forward to meeting them again at the tournaments in the future.
ToD leaves with a parting gift: He says he will continue to use his Das to tear it up in EU. Who will replace him?
Root must have the fastest changing roster in SC2 at the moment. I will be interested to see who they have their sights set on with the recent Quantic shenanigans.
His Visa troubles need not necessarily be the result of lacking financials. Getting a (long term) US Visa is not that easy, there are many potential reasons why one would be denied one.
On December 07 2012 12:04 Netsky wrote: Can't ROOT sponsor him for a Visa?
Admittedly I know next to nothing about the process of getting a Visa in the US, but I'd imagine playing video games isn't near the top of the list of qualifications for one...
On December 07 2012 12:04 Netsky wrote: Can't ROOT sponsor him for a Visa?
Admittedly I know next to nothing about the process of getting a Visa in the US, but I'd imagine playing video games isn't near the top of the list of qualifications for one...
There can be numerous issues with getting a visa. Like, it took Totalbiscuit years to be able to move to the US (where his wife and child lives) from the UK.
On December 07 2012 12:04 Netsky wrote: Can't ROOT sponsor him for a Visa?
Admittedly I know next to nothing about the process of getting a Visa in the US, but I'd imagine playing video games isn't near the top of the list of qualifications for one...
I always wondered what kind of visa they get? not Tourist but working i guess?
On topic: was kinda wierd to see European in American dominated team Good Luck ToD, please come back to your warcraft 3 level in HoTS :D
On December 07 2012 12:04 Netsky wrote: Can't ROOT sponsor him for a Visa?
Admittedly I know next to nothing about the process of getting a Visa in the US, but I'd imagine playing video games isn't near the top of the list of qualifications for one...
There can be numerous issues with getting a visa. Like, it took Totalbiscuit years to be able to move to the US (where his wife and child lives) from the UK.
Years? I-130s are a bitch, but years sounds like a very long time.
You'd have to get a work visa in order to work in the United States or be considered an illegal worker. We kinda frown upon those.
He'd probably fall under section E3 (Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Unskilled Workers). Good luck getting the Department of Labor to certify a work visa request to "be a SC2 progamer."
The standards used in making labor certification determinations under the new system will be substantially the same as those used in arriving at a determination in the former system. The determination will continue to be based on: whether there are not sufficient United States workers who are able, willing, qualified and available; whether the employment of the foriegn worker will have an adverse effect on the wages and working conditions of United States workers similarly employed; and whether the employer has met the procedural requirements of the regulations.
On December 07 2012 12:09 liquidoa wrote: His Visa troubles need not necessarily be the result of lacking financials. Getting a (long term) US Visa is not that easy, there are many potential reasons why one would be denied one.
and yet Stephano got one, hes been arrested before and that always gives you trouble gettin in to the US even for a holiday let alone to live. Me thinks money helps when it comes to Visa's..... if a company want you bad enough and have the money they can get you a visa, even if you have something on your record that would otherwise disqualify you, such as a drug bust.
ToD with his new youtube channel, and those iron squid casts, starting slowly his transition
Now that he is not going back to korea any time soon, MillToD makes more sense, but i still believe that he shouldnt and wont go back to a team that remember, he already left twice!
The Millenium announcement was supposed to be about a Zerg Foreigner, but im not sure (ZeratoR la source pas fiable quoi haha)
On December 08 2012 01:53 ArtyK wrote: ToD with his new youtube channel, and those iron squid casts, starting slowly his transition
Now that he is not going back to korea any time soon, MillToD makes more sense, but i still believe that he shouldnt and wont go back to a team that remember, he already left twice!
The Millenium announcement was supposed to be about a Zerg Foreigner, but im not sure (ZeratoR la source pas fiable quoi haha)
Go ToD!
You're french right ? so you probably know ''Jamais deux sans trois" :D
Also we know for sure that millenium is gonna have a new ''big'' member soon but i wouldn't trust llewellys blindly,this man is such a tease,i'm sure he would be capable to hype the community for a zerg and recruit a terran to surprise everyone :D
On December 08 2012 01:53 ArtyK wrote: ToD with his new youtube channel, and those iron squid casts, starting slowly his transition
Now that he is not going back to korea any time soon, MillToD makes more sense, but i still believe that he shouldnt and wont go back to a team that remember, he already left twice!
The Millenium announcement was supposed to be about a Zerg Foreigner, but im not sure (ZeratoR la source pas fiable quoi haha)
Go ToD!
You're french right ? so you probably know ''Jamais deux sans trois" :D
Also we know for sure that millenium is gonna have a new ''big'' member soon but i wouldn't trust llewellys blindly,this man is such a tease,i'm sure he would be capable to hype the community for a zerg and recruit a terran to surprise everyone :D
Maybe :p Just not sure if its a good idea, especially knowing he didnt enjoy his teammates as much as the ROOTs! And join millenium as soon as he leaves root and california, which was not planned because of the visa problems, makes no sense...
On December 08 2012 01:53 ArtyK wrote: ToD with his new youtube channel, and those iron squid casts, starting slowly his transition
Now that he is not going back to korea any time soon, MillToD makes more sense, but i still believe that he shouldnt and wont go back to a team that remember, he already left twice!
The Millenium announcement was supposed to be about a Zerg Foreigner, but im not sure (ZeratoR la source pas fiable quoi haha)
Go ToD!
You're french right ? so you probably know ''Jamais deux sans trois" :D
Also we know for sure that millenium is gonna have a new ''big'' member soon but i wouldn't trust llewellys blindly,this man is such a tease,i'm sure he would be capable to hype the community for a zerg and recruit a terran to surprise everyone :D
Does Tod count as a big member announcement? I get that he's loved from his wc3 days, but he doesn't really have any notable sc2 results. I don't recall him placing well at any major lan. I've never understood the love affair with Tod and always saw him as a bm player with no results from what I've seen.
On December 08 2012 01:53 ArtyK wrote: ToD with his new youtube channel, and those iron squid casts, starting slowly his transition
Now that he is not going back to korea any time soon, MillToD makes more sense, but i still believe that he shouldnt and wont go back to a team that remember, he already left twice!
The Millenium announcement was supposed to be about a Zerg Foreigner, but im not sure (ZeratoR la source pas fiable quoi haha)
Go ToD!
You're french right ? so you probably know ''Jamais deux sans trois" :D
Also we know for sure that millenium is gonna have a new ''big'' member soon but i wouldn't trust llewellys blindly,this man is such a tease,i'm sure he would be capable to hype the community for a zerg and recruit a terran to surprise everyone :D
Does Tod count as a big member announcement? I get that he's loved from his wc3 days, but he doesn't really have any notable sc2 results. I don't recall him placing well at any major lan. I've never understood the love affair with Tod and always saw him as a bm player with no results from what I've seen.
The Millenium's announcement is definitely not the signing of ToD. Firstly because it'd not be "huge", secondly because they were looking for a Zerg player.
I can be wrong or Millenium signing a new player + ToD) but I really don't think so. GL ToD anyway !
Tod is gonna participate in a charity stream marathon this weekend with some others frenchs players. I believe it's about rare diseases which no pharmaceutical compagny care enough because it doesn't bring enough money.
Some asshole at the visa office was probably going around to all his coworkers, "Hey, check this out. This guy says he's here to play video games for a living, LOL, DENIED."
I really like Tod, but I hope he gets his attitude straight a little bit. Seems like the only thing I have heard from him in the past two months is balance whine on twitter.
On December 08 2012 22:28 Zyufin wrote: Some asshole at the visa office was probably going around to all his coworkers, "Hey, check this out. This guy says he's here to play video games for a living, LOL, DENIED."
They would probably look at that and deem that he'd be likely to become a public charge.
Just to add another piece to the Tod to Millenium rumor mill, he's on stream casting for the Millenium in-house tournament. And he's wearing a pretty cool Mill shirt. Wonder if that's another sign or if he just wanted to cast and was around.
EPT![[image loading]](http://www.root-gaming.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/ToDcu.jpg)
Good Luck ToD, please come back to your warcraft 3 level in HoTS :D
