Today I am making an announcement of one of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make in my life.
For unignorable mental health reasons, I will be withdrawing from the SWC 2025 finals tournament for Samsho.
To put it most simply - mental health is worth more than $250,000.
I need to start working on myself now. Not after the finals.
I was dedicated to attending the finals and playing my best even if I got last place, but unfortunately I am not in a place where I can reasonably do so.
I am ashamed and dismayed to distract my friends and fellow competitors from their preparations for the tour finals by making this announcement public.
I was looking forward to meeting and playing with my friends in international community and I saddened to lose this opportunity.
I am more proud of the keepsake in the below image than any trophy. This is a personalized gift from my friend and Japanese community organizer @omega_daisy to my trip to Japan 2024. This is the greatest ever expression of my dedication to the love of playing the game, not winning at the game.
The former goal was to win as many trophies and as possible, drop them on a random table in my bedroom and then repeat the cycle over again.
My current goal is to love the game again.