http://vod.afreecatv.com/PLAYER/STATION/67906984 (50:30)

TY announced on his stream that he is set to begin his mandatory military service this year. While TY was unsure about the exact start date, he said it would be sometime in June or July. He stated it was likely that he'd be able to compete in GSL Code S Season 1 as well as IEM Katowice, though he was unsure about Code S Season 2.

TY will fulfill his military service as part of the auxiliary police force, an alternative to active military service.

(first seen on Reddit)

geokilla

Canada8255 Posts

January 31 2021 19:34 GMT

Another one bites the dust. Sad to see.

ne4aJIb

Russian Federation3209 Posts

January 31 2021 19:58 GMT

Baby going to army, time flies.

ZombieGrub

United States719 Posts

January 31 2021 20:19 GMT

Will be quite sad to see tournaments without TY. ): I guess it's also worth noting that herO/Gumiho are coming back around that time just so it doesn't seem all bad.

3 Lions

United States3705 Posts

January 31 2021 20:33 GMT

Will he be able to play at home (similar to what Byun did) if he serves in the auxiliary police force?

starvingbox

United States44 Posts

January 31 2021 20:45 GMT

RIP. Very sad day. At least Gumiho and Hero are rumored to be coming back soon.

deacon.frost

Czech Republic12134 Posts

January 31 2021 21:09 GMT

All his titles were already a big hit to the Korean casting, now this

Sad to see him go, but there's nothign I can do about it

dysenterymd

1250 Posts

January 31 2021 21:24 GMT

Sad, with the way he was playing I felt like he had a chance to make the G5L race competitive. Guess now it's up to Inno to make it tight.

M3t4PhYzX

Poland4290 Posts

January 31 2021 21:49 GMT

pretty crazy.. I still remember him playing BW at like.. 14 or something.

hopefully he will still play Starcraft after he returns. GL HF!

DSK

England1110 Posts

January 31 2021 21:52 GMT

#10

Was bound to happen sooner or later. Here's to hoping he comes back to the scene once it's over...if it's still here. Form is temporary, class is forever.

Cricketer12

United States14003 Posts

January 31 2021 21:57 GMT

#11

damn unfortunate

Blargh

United States2103 Posts

January 31 2021 22:15 GMT

#12

There's really no right time for doing it... You either make the most of your early pro-gamer career but come out of the military in your 30s with no broader skillset, or you do it young and give up some of the only time to do what you want.

Oh well. I'll be committed to TY no matter what!

hegemony

27 Posts

January 31 2021 22:27 GMT

#13

Won't we be getting Classic and Gumiho back in June/july??

tommey.liang

United States363 Posts

January 31 2021 22:42 GMT

#14

Will miss his play and commanding performances, but he will be back sooner than we know it.

Kitai

United States886 Posts

January 31 2021 23:01 GMT

#15

Oof, this one hurts. He's definitely one of the most consequential people in the scene and arguably the best of the legendary Korean Terrans currently. Hard to spin this one in a positive light

Light1082

18 Posts

January 31 2021 23:56 GMT

#16

It is a very sad day when the best Terran in the world at the moment announces military service.

Hopefully Maru recovers quickly from his injury. Don't think anyone will be able to contest Maru as the best Terran while TY is gone.

Waxangel

United States33705 Posts

February 01 2021 01:54 GMT

#17

On February 01 2021 07:27 hegemony wrote:
Won't we be getting Classic and Gumiho back in June/july??

ByuL and Leenock will end their service around then as well, though ionno if any of them intend to play SC2 again

seemsgood

5527 Posts

February 01 2021 02:11 GMT

#18

On February 01 2021 06:09 deacon.frost wrote:
All his titles were already a big hit to the Korean casting, now this

Sad to see him go, but there's nothign I can do about it

the fourth mech hokage will be gone for 2 years but we have the third mech hokage gumiho back :[

Akio

Finland1838 Posts

February 01 2021 05:47 GMT

#19

This is big, time really does fly. We're truly in an era where we're finally losing all the big names to the military, hoping meanwhile for the ones already in to return once they're finished.
Good luck TY, make use of the big brain of yours in the army as well

sneakyfox

8218 Posts

February 01 2021 08:10 GMT

#20

Shocking and very sad since he could probably have postponed it until 2022.

I can understand why he would jump at the chance to go to aux. police instead of the military before that option is removed, but as a progamer it makes little sense imo. When he's done it will be just in time to not qualify for Katowice 2023. That is also the time when Blizzard's contract with ESL expires. One has to be a pretty big optimist to imagine the EPT and GSL being played beyond that date in something resembling the current setup. I don't really know what it is TY expects to be able to return to.