When mentioning Faker, many people will likely think of one of the legends not only of League of Legends but perhaps of Esports and sports in general. At the age of 28, Faker has achieved everything an Esports player could dream of: total dominance in the game he plays, being hailed as a “national treasure” in his homeland, and his fame and influence are indisputable, having extended into other fields. Of course, Faker’s assets cannot be overlooked, and it can be said that the title of G.O.A.T in the world of Faker is well-deserved.
However, if a player is only respected for their titles, then when that player declines in performance and skill, as is the natural law, that respect will gradually fade. But with Faker, it’s different. Over time, the community has grown to admire him even more, and Faker’s appeal has become “more explosive” than ever. Not far away, at the World Championship 2023, the one-sided finals still garnered over 6 million views. Other matches of T1 also dominated the peak view statistics of tournaments, thanks in part to Faker’s contribution.
According to an LPL commentator named Duoduo, who spoke right after last year’s World Championship finals: “Faker is not respected solely because of his titles; in a sport where most players are like fleeting flowers, Faker persists alone. We have witnessed many generations of players climbing this mountain in search of greatness. Then they fall and leave us. But Faker is still there. When we look back, he has become part of that pinnacle.”
The commentator’s observation is completely reasonable. Throughout the history of League of Legends, performance can fluctuate, and titles may still elude Faker, but his perseverance and resilience are immortal. There was even a time when people thought Faker should retire, and he was pushed to the bench, yet Faker remained there, using his abilities to prove he is irreplaceable. Ultimately, the tumultuous year of 2023 has made the entire League of Legends world realize one thing: No one can replace Faker, in the past, present, and the near future.
At MSI 2024, Faker will still be the driving force ensuring T1 operates smoothly. And of course, he will continue to strive to help his teammates add more titles to T1’s trophy cabinet as well as his own illustrious career.