Most of you probably do not know much about TooDming other than he is a Zerg player from China. He is 26 years old by American standards. He plays for the team called ZOO, Zenith of Origin. What most of you may not know, is that the financial backers of ZOO stopped supporting the team a few months ago. This means that TooDming and his teammates Courage and Top have no funding to attend any tournaments or events. TooDming told me that he personally paid for his trip to WCS and Red Bull Atlanta with his own personal savings. The word he used to describe his decision was Gamble. He told me that everything rides on his trip to america. If he doesn't perform well his team may have to disband and it is possible that we may not see him or his teammates for a very long time if not ever again. He wanted to perform well not just for himself but for his team and for his country. His main concern was not personal gain. His first worry was performing well for his team so that they may get a new sponsor to support them. He may not have won it all, but he has the heart of a true champion. He has been around since Brood War and had played professionally since the start of WoL. Please go follow him on twitter at www.twitter.com/TooDming to show your support and help him save his team.

plogamer

Canada3132 Posts

July 17 2014 22:32 GMT

That's a pretty epic story when you read it closely.

TooDming told me that he personally paid for his trip to WCS and Red Bull Atlanta with his own personal savings.

Wouldn't that be quite a bit of money for ordinary families in China?

Vete

Germany190 Posts

July 17 2014 22:35 GMT

Maybe it could be the money which he won before

Phanekim

United States777 Posts

July 17 2014 22:45 GMT

You know...he can join the rest of us and get a job. I mean I sympathize and all...but seriously.

feels first world problem-esque.

Pursuit_

United States1330 Posts

July 17 2014 22:50 GMT

Pretty awesome story, it takes a lot of courage to really commit to something that has no garauntees. Hope TooDming does well and the pressure doesn't get to him!

Dangermousecatdog

United Kingdom7084 Posts

July 17 2014 22:53 GMT

On July 18 2014 07:45 Phanekim wrote:
You know...he can join the rest of us and get a job. I mean I sympathize and all...but seriously.

feels first world problem-esque.

I don't know where you got the impression that China is a first world country.

EJK

United States1302 Posts

July 17 2014 23:00 GMT

great story, I was really looking forward to the 2nd paragraph tho

SuperHofmann

Italy1741 Posts

July 17 2014 23:01 GMT

I heard before about ZOO's financial problems, I hope they will solve them soon, they seems a good team.

Circumstance

United States11403 Posts

July 17 2014 23:03 GMT

On July 18 2014 07:45 Phanekim wrote:
You know...he can join the rest of us and get a job. I mean I sympathize and all...but seriously.

feels first world problem-esque.

He has a job. He's a professional athlete in the sport of StarCraft II.

XanaNA

United States15 Posts

July 17 2014 23:06 GMT

#10

Mind adding a source? Not that I don't believe you, I was just wondering if ZOO has announced that they are having financial problems or something like that. Pretty cool that TooDming payed for the tournaments out of pocket, shows a lot of dedication. Best wishes to him! Hope the team recovers.

Brutaxilos

United States2629 Posts

July 17 2014 23:21 GMT

#11

Met TooDming at MLG, great guy and super friendly (plus he has a sick haircut!). Would really feel bad if he had to quit. Hope everything goes well for him!

Phanekim

United States777 Posts

July 17 2014 23:35 GMT

#12

On July 18 2014 07:53 Dangermousecatdog wrote:

Show nested quote +

I don't know where you got the impression that China is a first world country.

that doesn't imply that its a first world country. just saying the problem is very similar. Hence the esque, but always someone...

Viper.BrutaTroN

United States18 Posts

July 17 2014 23:39 GMT

#13

The problem with this is that China is a unknown world when it comes to western world sponsors and the thought of backing something so blindly will probably persuade the big team to not pursue this.

AldarisGCE

United States20 Posts

July 18 2014 00:38 GMT

#14

Hopefully I will be able to do a follow-up to this article. I will be doing my best to get in touch with him.

Loccstana

United States833 Posts

July 18 2014 00:48 GMT

#15

Why do people keep on refering him as Toodming? The correct transliteration is "Tu Dou Ming", or rather just Potato Ming if translated to english

caznitch

Canada645 Posts

July 18 2014 02:30 GMT

#16

On July 18 2014 07:45 Phanekim wrote:
You know...he can join the rest of us and get a job. I mean I sympathize and all...but seriously.

feels first world problem-esque.

You're on a sc2 site that mainly deals with following the professional sc2 scene and this is your response? Feels like like brain-dead-esque to me.

All the best to him. Wish there was a better way to support these players.

digmouse

China6329 Posts

July 18 2014 03:06 GMT

#17

On July 18 2014 09:38 AldarisGCE wrote:
Hopefully I will be able to do a follow-up to this article. I will be doing my best to get in touch with him.

Drop me a message if you want to dig deep and go all out.

vult

United States9400 Posts

July 18 2014 03:29 GMT

#18

Damn, I have really liked TooDming ever since seeing his play in WCS China 2012, and in WCS nowadays. And the ZOO players are finally gaining some steam. Hopefully things work out!

Genome852

United States979 Posts

July 18 2014 03:36 GMT

#19

On July 18 2014 07:32 plogamer wrote:

Show nested quote +

Wouldn't that be quite a bit of money for ordinary families in China?

From some googling, 2014 average Chinese salary for someone living in a city is equivalent to around $6000-7000, so a China-US round trip ticket will put a huge dent for the average person. Shanghai's minimum wage is ~$3500 / year.

Yorkie

United States12612 Posts

July 18 2014 04:15 GMT

#20

TooDming is fking awesome. Fan club here : http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/fan-clubs/447818-toodming-fan-club