imported>Waacstats: –{{ESports-player-stub}}, +{{Esports-player-stub}}, +{{US-sport-bio-stub}} using StubSorter

2025-03-07T16:26:53Z

–{{ESports-player-stub}}, +{{Esports-player-stub}}, +{{US-sport-bio-stub}} using StubSorter

New page

{{Short description|American professional esports player}}
{{other uses|T-square (disambiguation)}}

{{Infobox Pro Gaming player
| ID = Tsquared
| name = Tom Taylor
| image = Tsquared on Esports Arena in 2020.jpg
| caption = Taylor in 2020
| birth_date = {{Birth based on age as of date|21|2008|12|16}}<ref name="Cubbison" />
| birth_place = [[Syracuse, New York]], [[United States|U.S.]]
| team =
| leagues = [[Major League Gaming]]
| games = ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'' ''[[Halo 2]]'' ''[[Halo 3]]'' ''[[Halo: Reach]]'' ''[[Gears of War]]'' ''[[Battlefield 3]]''
| team1 = [[Str8 Rippin]]
| years1 = 2005–2010, 2014–2015
| team2 = Instinct
| years2 = 2011
}}
'''Tom Taylor''', known by the [[gamertag]] '''Tsquared''', is a former professional gamer and captain of the team [[Str8 Rippin]], which has had notable success in [[Major League Gaming]] (MLG), and was also the coach of Status Quo during the 2010 National Championships in [[Dallas]] where he helped them place 2nd behind Final Boss.{{citation needed|date=March 2014}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mlgpro.com/?q=pro/tsquared|title=Tsquared}}</ref> Making him one of the only players to also coach an event.{{citation needed|date=March 2014}} He signed a contract with MLG valued at approximately US$250,000<ref name="GS">{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/xbox/action/halo2/news.html?sid=6152992 |title=Gamers get $1m MLG gig |date=2006-06-21 |publisher=[[GameSpot]] |first=Tim |last=Surette }}</ref> and earned between $120,000 and $150,000 annually in prize money and endorsement deals.<ref name="Gameset Inverview">[http://www.gamesetwatch.com/2006/08/gamesetinterview_tom_tsquared.php Gameset Inverview]</ref> He founded a company called Gaming Lessons that provides tutoring for aspiring professional gamers, particularly in the [[Halo (franchise)|''Halo'' series]].<ref name="Gameset Inverview"/> Several other professional gamers from MLG have also worked as instructors at Gaming Lessons.<ref name="instructors">{{cite web |url=http://www.gaming-lessons.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=20&Itemid=28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070507001038/http://www.gaming-lessons.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=20&Itemid=28 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2007-05-07 |title=Halo 3 Instructors |work=Gaming-Lessons.com }}</ref> He operates a [[YouTube]] channel with over 10,000 subscribers featuring approximately 24 hours worth of content.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.letsplayindex.com/channels/16731-tsquaredofficial|title=TsquaredOfficial - YouTube Channel Stats :: Let's Play Index|website=letsplayindex.com|access-date=2017-08-19}}</ref>

Tsquared has appeared in [[MTV]]'s [[Documentary film|documentary]] [[television series|series]] ''[[True Life]]: I'm a Professional Gamer'' and on ''[[Icons (TV series)|Icons]]'',<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.g4tv.com/icons/episodes/6253/ICONS_Tom_Tsquared_Taylor_.html |title=G4 - Icons - ICONS: Tom "Tsquared" Taylor |access-date=2008-02-18 |archive-date=2007-03-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070321215133/http://www.g4tv.com/icons/episodes/6253/ICONS_Tom_Tsquared_Taylor_.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> and has been mentioned in various publications including ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]''. He also appeared as part of ''[[Stuff (magazine)|Stuff]]'' magazine's list of 20 most influential people under the age of 30 in August 2006.<ref name="WSJ">{{cite web
|url=http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9584_22-6133989.html |title=Professional video gamer says it's not all fun |date=2006-11-09 |publisher=[[ZDNet]]
|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20061220091124/http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9584_22-6133989.html |archivedate = 2006-12-20}}</ref> He appears occasionally on [[X-Play]] to provide tips for various online games.

During 2008{{ndash}}2009, Tsquared was featured on over 175 million [[Dr Pepper]] bottles issued across the United States as part of a promotional sponsorship for MLG.<ref name="Dr. Pepper">{{cite web |url=http://videogames.yahoo.com/events/plugged-in/making-money-from-video-games-it-s-child-s-play-/1339010 |title=Making money from video games |work=Yahoo! Games |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090802153014/http://videogames.yahoo.com/events/plugged-in/making-money-from-video-games-it-s-child-s-play-/1339010 |archivedate=2009-08-02 }}</ref> He currently serves as a [[GameSpot]] ambassador.

In November 2015, Tsquared returned to competitive Halo as the leader of the revived Str8 Rippin team during Season 1 of the [[Halo Championship Series]].

On April 3rd, 2015, Tsquared announced his retirement from competitive Halo during a livestream on [[Twitch (service)|Twitch]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dexerto.com/features/the-legacy-of-tom-tsquared-taylor/|title=THE LEGACY OF TOM 'TSQUARED' TAYLOR|first=David|last=Throop|date=April 7, 2015|website=DEXERTO|accessdate=May 21, 2015|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150512193439/http://dexerto.com/features/the-legacy-of-tom-tsquared-taylor/|archivedate=May 12, 2015}}</ref>

==Tournament placements==
* [[MLG New York Championships 2004]] – 4th
* [[MLG New York Championships 2005]] – 5 – 6th
* [[MLG Las Vegas Championships 2006]] – 3rd
* [[MLG Las Vegas Championships 2007]] – 3rd
* [[MLG Las Vegas Championships 2008]] – 1st
* [[MLG Orlando Championships 2009]] – 6th
* [[MLG Providence Championships 2011]] – 20th
* [[MLG Winter Championship 2012]] – 13-16th
* ESL MCC Launch Invitational 2nd
* 2015 [[Halo Championship Series]] Season 1 – 5th

==Personal life==
Taylor was born and raised in [[Syracuse, New York]] then moved to [[Florida]] in 2001 to attend high school.<ref name="Cubbison">{{cite news |last1=Cubbison |first1=Brian |title=Baldwinsville's Tom "Tsquared" Taylor makes hundreds of thousands of dollars playing video games |url=https://www.syracuse.com/news/2008/12/baldwinsvilles_tom_tsquared_ta.html |access-date=May 2, 2021 |work=Syracuse.com |date=December 15, 2008}}</ref> In 2009 he and Str8 Rippin moved to a gaming house in [[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]], Florida.

In 2011 Tsquared appeared on the [[YouTube]] [[reality television]] series ''The Controller: Battlefield 3''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.majorleaguegaming.com/news/tsquareds-blog-the-controller-print-media-fame-and-mlg-providence|title=Tsquared's Blog: The Controller, Print Media Fame, and MLG Providence|author= Lish | date=November 15, 2011|website=Major League Gaming|accessdate=May 20, 2015}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
* {{YouTube|u=TsquaredMLG|{{PAGENAMEBASE}}}}
* [http://www.twitch.tv/tsquared tsquared on Twitch]

{{Professional Halo competition}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tsquared}}
[[Category:1987 births]]
[[Category:American esports players]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Baldwinsville, New York]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Syracuse, New York]]
[[Category:People from Orlando, Florida]]
[[Category:People from Jupiter, Florida]]
[[Category:Halo (franchise) players]]
[[Category:Str8 Rippin players]]
[[Category:Apex Legends players]]
[[Category:Esports commentators]]
[[Category:Apex Legends commentators]]

{{Esports-player-stub}}
{{US-sport-bio-stub}}

Tsquared - Revision history

imported>Waacstats: –{{ESports-player-stub}}, +{{Esports-player-stub}}, +{{US-sport-bio-stub}} using StubSorter