WildTurtle

Early Gaming Beginnings and Amateur Circuit

Jason Tran's journey into competitive gaming began with Defense of the Ancients. He transitioned to League of Legends to play with friends, taking a one-year break before returning to the game at the end of his ninth-grade year. His early professional experience was built on the Season 1 amateur circuit, playing for teams like Forty Bus Gaming and Kill Steal Gaming. Prior to the IGN Pro League Season 4, he played for Monomaniac eSports, developing the skills that would soon attract attention from more established organizations.

The 2012 Grind and Formation of NomNom

WildTurtle's 2012 season was a series of substitutions and team changes that highlighted the volatile nature of the early League of Legends scene. He was a substitute for Team Legion at the IPL Face Off in San Francisco, playing against Team WE. Later that month, he replaced Austin 'LiNk' Shin as the mid-laner for Counter Logic Gaming Black at the MLG Summer Championship, where they lost in the second round. In October, Orbit Gaming brought him in as their new ADC, replacing Nientohsoh. This team soon left the organization, citing stolen prize money and missing equipment, and rebranded as Reddit Nation. After attending Lone Star Clash 2, the squad was acquired by Quantic Gaming, only for that organization to disband in December when investors withdrew funding. The released players reformed under the name NomNom, and their third-place finish at the Season 3 NA MLG Online Qualifiers secured them a spot in the offline qualifier for the new League of Legends Championship Series.

Breakthrough with Team SoloMid and First Titles

In January 2013, NomNom renamed to Cloud9 but failed to pass the LCS offline qualifier. A major opportunity arose in March when Team SoloMid benched their starting ADC, Chaox, due to performance and attitude issues. WildTurtle, who had been a TSM substitute since February, stepped into the starting role. His impact was immediate, helping TSM secure first place in the NA LCS Spring Split. Cloud9 filled his former spot with SnEaKyCaStRoO. Although TSM lost the 2013 Summer Split finals to that same Cloud9 squad, WildTurtle had arrived as a star. The following year, 2014, saw TSM defeat Cloud9 3-2 in a dramatic Summer Split playoff final to claim another domestic championship. This victory qualified them for the 2014 World Championship, where their run ended in the quarterfinals with a 1-3 loss to Samsung White.

Peak Success and International Victory with TSM

The 2015 season represented a high point for WildTurtle's competitive achievements. In March, TSM won the IEM Season IX World Championship in Katowice, defeating China's Team WE 3-0 in the finals. Domestically, they continued their strong form, claiming the NA LCS Spring Split playoffs title with a 3-1 victory over Cloud9 in April. This win earned a trip to the Mid-Season Invitational, though the team was eliminated in the group stage. The Summer Split ended with a loss in the finals to CLG. TSM qualified for the 2015 World Championship but was again eliminated in the group stage. Following these results, WildTurtle's long first stint with TSM concluded in December when he was acquired by the new organization, Immortals.

Dominant Regular Seasons and Playoff Heartbreak with Immortals

WildTurtle's move to Immortals for the 2016 season created one of the most formidable regular-season teams in NA LCS history. In the Spring Split, they posted a staggering 17-1 record, the best split performance the league had seen. However, playoffs brought disappointment as they lost 0-3 to TSM in the semifinals, though they won the third-place match. The Summer Split followed a similar pattern, a second-place regular season finish followed by a semifinal loss, this time 2-3 to Cloud9. By accumulating the most championship points, Immortals earned the top seed in the regional qualifier for the 2016 World Championship. In a final setback, they were defeated 1-3 by Cloud9, failing to qualify for the tournament entirely.

A Return to TSM and Move to FlyQuest

In late 2016, with TSM's Doublelift taking a competitive break, WildTurtle returned to his former team. He helped TSM win the 2017 NA LCS Spring Split and qualify for that year's Mid-Season Invitational. At MSI, TSM finished with a 4-6 record, placing fifth after losing a tiebreaker match. When Doublelift returned for the Summer Split, WildTurtle joined FlyQuest, reuniting with former Cloud9 teammates. The new team struggled, finishing seventh in the regular season and losing in the regional qualifiers, missing the World Championship.

The FlyQuest Era and a Final Worlds Appearance

From 2018 through 2020, WildTurtle remained with FlyQuest. For several seasons, the team consistently finished in the middle of the LCS rankings, even placing last at one point. A significant turnaround came in the 2020 season. FlyQuest finished fourth in the Spring Split and then second in the Summer Split, finally securing a slot at the 2020 World Championship. At the global event, FlyQuest was placed into Group D and finished with a 3-3 record, taking third place in the group and ending their tournament run.

Later Career Moves and Transition from Play

After his Worlds appearance, WildTurtle's career entered its final phases. He joined CLG for the 2021 season, but the team finished last in both splits. A 2022 reunion with Immortals lasted only the Spring Split, which ended with a tenth-place finish. In 2023, he rejoined TSM once more, initially playing for their challenger team in the second-tier NACL before returning to the main LCS roster. For the 2024 season, Shopify Rebellion acquired TSM's LCS spot and roster. WildTurtle stayed with the organization, transitioning into roles as a substitute player and a coach while also serving as a streamer and content creator. In early 2025, he announced his retirement from professional esports, closing the book on a playing career defined by its long duration.