The esports player “ZooMaa” has been active as a professional in Call of Duty in recent years, but now must end his career early. An injury forces him to take this step.
This is ZooMaa: Thomas “ZooMaa” Paparatto began his career as a Call of Duty professional in 2013 and changed teams multiple times in the following years. He then spent four years as a member of the FaZe Clan before most recently competing for the New York Subliners.
However, in the future, the 25-year-old professional will not be able to pursue this career any longer. He explained this in a post (via TwitLonger).
“I don’t know what to do at this point”
What the retirement means for ZooMaa: As the player explains, the post was the “hardest thing he has ever had to write.” In the foreseeable future, he will no longer be able to compete in competitive Call of Duty because an old, long-standing injury has resurfaced.
I don’t know if many of you remember, but a few years ago when I was with FaZe, I struggled with weakness in my thumb/wrist and had to undergo surgery. The process of getting healthy again was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do, both physically and mentally, which led to a lot of stress and anxiety.
ZooMaa via TwitLonger
Now the injury has returned, making it impossible for him to compete at the highest level. It is simply not possible to achieve this performance because of the pain.
He is no longer “the real ZooMaa” and feels that it is not fair to him and his team to go through all of this again. Another danger is that his hand could suffer even more damage.
It breaks my heart to part ways with a game that I have poured my heart and soul into every single day for eight years. I tear up as I write this, but I don’t know what to do at this point.
ZooMaa via TwitLonger
However, he has had a fantastic run and loved having such a long career as a player. He still wants to support the scene in the future – even if he does not yet know what comes next.
Thus, ZooMaa’s career ends at just 25 years – an age at which many other people are just starting to find their footing in their jobs.
However, many esports athletes are significantly younger than ZooMaa. Fortnite pro Benjy Fish, for example, is only 16 years old and has spent the past two years fully diving into esports – but recently criticized it quite a bit.
