When it comes to casting duos, nobody beats the legendary pair of Nick “Tasteless” Plott and Dan “Artosis” Stemkoski, famous for their wit and work ethic. But today, their management agency, Global eSports Management, announced their departure from the organization.
“Tastosis,” as they’ve been dubbed by StarCraft 2 fans, were integral to the growth of the esports scene, especially in North America. Both were former StarCraft: Brood War pros with a lengthy history in the game, most notably competing in the World Cyber Games as representatives of North America. Armed with expert knowledge, they became commentators for Korean organization GomTV.
When StarCraft 2 stormed onto the esports scene, they jumped at the opportunity to make the scene more approachable to a wider audience. Together, they broadcast the top Korean pro matches in English, often working long hours to make sure each game got its due. Their legacy extends to this day, with Korean esports organizations employing English speakers to create a broader reach for their product.
The duo soon branched out into other ventures, such as the Handsome Nerd apparel store. In order to secure their careers, they both signed onto the Esports Management Group, led by Tobias “Tumba” Sherman, in 2012. EMG became Global eSports Management in 2013 when Sherman joined forces with Min-Sik Ko and Seong-Hwan Kim.
Since signing, Plott and Stemkoski continued to grow their legacies, notably with the release of the controversial documentary focused on them, Sons of StarCraft. Stemkoski has also continued competing, recently as one of the top players of the digital card game Hearthstone. Both him and Plott are very popular streamers.
Today, Sherman announced the departure of the epic duo.
“It’s a day of big change for Global eSports Management. We have parted ways with two of our most recognisable clients, Nick Plott and Dan “Artosis” Stemkoski,” he said.
“Nick and Dan played a vital role in establishing GEM back when it was known as EMG. They were the first two clients that we signed and we grew in tandem together over the years. However sometimes business relationships run their course and a change of direction and pace are needed. With that said we have made the decision to part company by mutual consent and move in our separate ways. Working with them has been a rewarding experience and on behalf of everyone here at GEM I wish them the very best in their future endeavours.”
Where the two intend to go from here is unclear, but one thing is certain: their legacy has made esports what it is today, and their continuing contributions keep them at the top of their field.
