Tony Schnur, nicknamed Thick44 of Neebs Gaming, a gaming channel on YouTube, passed away at the age of 47 after a two-year battle with cancer. The station announced the news in a sad Twitter statement on Monday, February 13, 2023.
According to Neebs Gaming:
“We are sorry to tell you that our beloved friend Tony “Thick44” Schnur passed away after fighting heroically for as long as his body would allow. He died peacefully, surrounded by his family.”
The YouTuber originally shared his glioblastoma diagnosis with viewers in June 2022, after which he underwent a successful surgical excision. Glioblastoma is an aggressive form of brain cancer. It is one of the most common types of brain tumors in adults, according to WebMD, and it is particularly aggressive, meaning it can grow and multiply very quickly.
Thick44’s death has left netizens and the gaming world “deeply surprised and devastated”.
As word of the tragedy spread, Twitter users began paying tribute to the player with the hashtag #WyvernKing, which quickly started trending on the microblogging network. Netizens expressed their condolences to his family. The gaming community was stunned and moved to tears.
#REST IN PEACE Tony “Thick44” Schnur.
The explorer of #BattlefieldFriends.
Thank you for being a great person 🪖https://t.co/7DTJ7nd4sQ pic.twitter.com/6GliKS9ptz— Battlefield Bulletin (@BFBulletin) February 14, 2023
RIP Tony “Thick44” Schnur. Thanks for all the laughs and fuck cancer. pic.twitter.com/wfazBk3Rs9
— Dave Mallam (@Davemallam) February 14, 2023
They described him as excellent and a huge source of good impact in their lives. Many people shared their memories of the gamer, while others created artwork and screenshots of his emblem in his honor. Some others even included the words “Long live the Wyvern King” in their tributes. Internet users commented on Schnur’s interest in content development and gaming.
Tony Schnur’s cancer returned despite his surgery
Tony Schnur revealed his cancer battle and post-surgery rehabilitation in an Instagram story in June 2022. He also thanked everyone who helped him along the way. Thick44 said he had surgery a year ago. He went on to say:
“I remember waking up after surgery and hearing a voice say, ‘Are you ready to play again?’ ‘Yes,’ I said immediately. I am truly blessed to have such a great support system to help me through this.
However, a few months later, he revealed that the glioblastoma had resurfaced and discussed his future steps. Thick44 reported needing further tumor removal surgery after receiving high-dose targeted radiation. Tony’s supporters and admirers hoped for another successful operation. Neebs Gaming subsequently confirmed that the 47-year-old was recovering.
On January 2, 2023, a GoFundMe page set up in 2021 to support Thick44’s operation offered an update on his status. There stood:
“After a rough number of months (and, let’s face it, years), Christmas and New Year’s in hospital, Tony returns home to be with his family.”
According to Neebs Gaming’s tweet, all contributions to this fundraiser would now go to a trust set up for Schnur’s children.
