My thoughts as someone who has followed and enjoyed the journey of "The card evaluating trio" (Rarran, CGB, Cimo) since the very start.
(Small note: I only write 1 "o" in his name for this post, I know there are 8)
I am by no means a diehard Cimo watcher or anything and I don't want to pretend I am, in fact I don't even consume that much YGO contents on YouTube, but I've watched every single episodes of the trio so many times that I can't count.
I can't really explain why I keep listening/watching their card evaluating videos, maybe because of my general interest in multiple card games, maybe because they are funny, maybe because of the interesting (card gaming) history lessons that I learn, or maybe all of the above. They just "click".
Out of the 3 games (YGO, MtG, HS), I have the most experience with YGO, so naturally I'm a lot more judging when I watch his videos. I've voiced my concerns with how wrong he is in some videos, and at some points, I consider Cimo the weakest link in the trio. But then I realized, it has to be these 3 people, and there's no suitable replacement for any of them.
Cimo and his weirdly placed competitive spirits in these videos really made them much more interesting, and have much more "stakes" even though there's no real winning here. He did such a good job as an entertainer: keep the audience entertained. Is it the experience from doing YouTube for so long? I went back to watch some episodes Rarran did with other YGO creators before Cimo, and they just aren't the same.
That's how the voices of these 3 people have always been a part of my life for the last 2 years. I bought Premium so I can listen to them uninterrupted. I subscribed to a mobile data plan with unlimited YouTube data (yes we have something like that here) so I can always listen to them on the go. My YouTube main screen always have a video of them as a suggestion. I just tune into a random episode and listen when I commute to work. When I go on vacation, I download a few of them to listen to when I'm on the plane. And most of the times I listen to them before I sleep.
Now back to the present. I've noticed the absence of their videos recently, and I knew this day would eventually come. To be clear, I wish the best for Cimo and I WANT HIM TO WIN HIS BATTLE, but I also know it's not as easy as saying. The worst thing could happen at any time, and that time just happened to be... today.
At the time, I didn't know it. But his last collab video is him, CGB, Rarran and Voxy playing a commander game, and having a blast. I'm sad that he's gone, but a small part of me is happy that he was able to be there, at the table with his card games friends, and just having a great time. And in the spirit of commander format, as long as you all had fun, that's all that matters.
Farewell, Cimoooooooo... We will all miss you, as you are truly irreplaceable.
We took this group pic at Alex and Bryttni’s wedding. The night before everyone was meeting up in the hotel bar, Joseph was picking out a deck and I said “don’t bring your cards, this is a hangout at a bar.”
… Joseph was like the only person to show up empty-handed.
Fuck you, cancer. You can’t take these memories away from me.
Alex, my friends and I are still together cuz of everything you’ve done for Yugioh. I’ll never stop being your fan. I’ll never stop being your friend.
It’s just not fair, man. Cimo was such a bright and shining presence for our community and meant so much to so many. He’s the reason so many of us do what we do. So many of us wanted to be him. So many of us are who we are because of him.
Rest in peace, Alex
So sad to wake up to these news, I only talked/worked with you a few times but it was always such a pleasure, sending much love to you and your loved ones
Fuck cancer
I can’t believe my friend Alex is gone. I loved him so much, he was an inspiration, the greatest guy you could ever hope to have a chance to meet.
He supported me through thick and thin, was always there for me when I needed him, I am beyond blessed to have gotten the chance to call this guy one of my best friends.
I’m gonna miss you buddy, you were too good for this world, I and everyone who you’ve touched through your content, your kindess and your humor will have you in their hearts forever. rest in peace ❤️
A bit frustrated that the death of my husband was leaked without my consent. I had a specific plan in place to announce it when I was ready after I gave myself and our family space to grieve. I know that you all loved him dearly. (1/2)