Once the former franchise star of the Woongjin Stars organization, Yoon 'Free' Yong-tae has announced his retirement after failing to be claimed through waivers.
On the first of October, it was announced that Woongjin will be releasing all but two players, Soulkey and sOs, due to financial problems with the company. As a result, ZerO and PianO have moved to broadcasting Brood War on Afreeca, BrAvO was picked up as a practice partner with SK Telecom T1 and Aria, Hanbin and now free, have completely retired from Starcraft 2.
Unlike some of his teammates, Free, for the meantime, won't be moving straight to the Afreeca scene. He will most likely move on from the e-Sports world and look towards a new path after his military service.
From what I know, no team showed interest in Free mainly because of his age and his rather mediocrity. He apparently still wants to play the game professionally, but rather than going to afreeca to stream, he'd rather find a job in the computer science? field.
웅진은 지난 10월 1일 대규모 웨이버 공시를 통해 김민철, 김유진을 제외한 윤용태, 김명운, 노준규, 임진묵, 송광호, 조한빈 등 6명의 선수들을 방출 시켰다. 모기업의 경영난 악화로 인해 웅진은 선수들을 모두 데리고 있을 여유가 없다고 판단해 이 같은 결정을 내렸고 가장 나중까지 거취가 결정되지 않았던 윤용태는 결국 은퇴했다.
웅진에서 웨이버 공시된 선수들 가운데 김명운이 가장 먼저 은퇴를 선언했고 이후 임진묵이 은퇴하며 아프리카에서 스타크래프트:브루드워(이하 스타1) 방송을 시작하겠다는 의사를 페이스북으로 전했다. 노준규는 SK텔레콤 T1에 입단했으며 연습생이었던 송광호, 조한빈 등은 은퇴할 것으로 알려졌다.
이후 윤용태만이 거취가 결정되지 않아 팬들의 궁금증을 자아냈던 상황. 윤용태는 접촉해 오는 팀을 기다렸지만 나이가 많은 상황에서 윤용태를 원하는 팀이 없었고 더 이상 기다리지 않고 은퇴를 하는 것이 맞다고 판단한 것으로 알려졌다.
윤용태는 은퇴한 다른 선수들이 아프리카 TV를 통해 스타1으로 복귀한 것과 달리 더 이상 게임을 하지 않겠다는 의사를 전했다. 윤용태는 컴퓨터 관련 자격증을 취득한 뒤 새로운 길을 걸을 것으로 보인다.
윤용태는 "내 의지로 은퇴한 것이 아니고 아직까지 게임에 대한 열정이 남은 상태에서 은퇴를 하게 돼 아쉬움이 크다"며 "그동안 응원해 주신 팬들께 인사도 못하고 은퇴하는 것 같아 더욱 아쉬운 마음이 든다"고 말했다.
[데일리e스포츠 이소라 기자 sora@dailyesports.com]
On October 1st, Woongjin released 6 players (Free, ZerO, hOn_sin aka Bravo, Piano, Aria, Hanbin). This decision was unavoidable as the parent management was forced to downsize due to financial woes. Free, who has been hanging in the limbo since then, finally announced his retirement.
Of the released players, Zero was the first to announce retirement. Piano followed shortly and expressed his intent to broadcast SCBW on his personal stream. Bravo was picked up by SKT1. The [B-teamers / practice partners] Aria and Hanbin are expected to retire.
Fans have since then waited for Free make an announcement regarding his future. [It's now known that] Free waited a few days for teams to make last-minute offers, but none came [for various reasons, his age being one of them] so he decided to finally retire.
Unlike many other retirees before him, Free expressed his intent to step away from gaming / Afreeca streaming. His plan seems to be to attain computers-related licenses as he will pursue that path.
Free said, "There is a lot of regrets [and bitter feelings] because I have to retire while I still have a lot of passion for gaming. It doesn't feel like I'm making a proper goodbye to my fans [which further burdens my heart]."
On November 12 2013 00:01 glzElectromaster wrote: From what I know, no team showed interest in Free mainly because of his age and his rather mediocrity. He apparently still wants to play the game professionally, but rather than going to afreeca to stream, he'd rather find a job in the computer science? field.
Or so I read on StarCraft Times.
If that's true, I'm disappointed. free actually did quite well in the latest Proleague, and I think he could be a valuable asset to a lot of teams.
On November 12 2013 00:01 glzElectromaster wrote: From what I know, no team showed interest in Free mainly because of his age and his rather mediocrity. He apparently still wants to play the game professionally, but rather than going to afreeca to stream, he'd rather find a job in the computer science? field.
Or so I read on StarCraft Times.
It's a smart choice. streaming on afreeca is only delaying the inevitable need to get a proper job that can support his living. I think some may be able to make a small living but it is much better to get a full time job because the skills are more transferable between jobs.
EPT
