Tsquared

{{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}}

| birth_place = Syracuse, New York, 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}}{{cite web|url=http://www.mlgpro.com/?q=pro/tsquared|title=Tsquared}} 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{{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 }} and earned between $120,000 and $150,000 annually in prize money and endorsement deals.[http://www.gamesetwatch.com/2006/08/gamesetinterview_tom_tsquared.php Gameset Inverview] He founded a company called Gaming Lessons that provides tutoring for aspiring professional gamers, particularly in the Halo series. Several other professional gamers from MLG have also worked as instructors at Gaming Lessons.{{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 }} He operates a YouTube channel with over 10,000 subscribers featuring approximately 24 hours worth of content.{{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}}

Tsquared has appeared in MTV's documentary series True Life: I'm a Professional Gamer and on Icons,{{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 }} and has been mentioned in various publications including The Wall Street Journal. He also appeared as part of Stuff magazine's list of 20 most influential people under the age of 30 in August 2006.{{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}} 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.{{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 }} 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.{{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}}