As we know, after T1 and Faker “swept” 3 awards at the Esports Awards 2023, including 2 of the most significant and prestigious awards, namely Esports Team of the Year and Esports PC Player of the Year, it has ignited a fierce debate. On many forums, particularly in the West, numerous viewers expressed their dissatisfaction. Notably, many industry insiders, including renowned journalists and casters, have voiced their opposition. The reason being, aside from Faker and T1, the other nominations were predominantly Western. Only Ruler and ImperialHal represent Asia.
Of course, every award comes with controversy, and the Esports Awards 2023 is no different. However, this year, the award has garnered special attention as T1 and Faker achieved a resounding victory against strong Western nominations. Particularly, this is also a year filled with ups and downs for T1 and Faker, making such awards even more compelling. Yet, many opinions have directed extreme negativity towards Faker and T1. Nevertheless, for the majority of the League of Legends community, this award is entirely deserved.
However, some opinions from LPL viewers pointed out the true nature of this year’s Esports Awards. As mentioned above, the award has not garnered proper attention from the Esports community. Therefore, many believe that the inclusion of Faker and T1, besides being a well-deserved honor, is also somewhat intended to boost the award’s appeal and credibility.
One opinion candidly remarked: “Faker doesn’t need awards to prove anything. He is a great player and doesn’t require any expert opinions or statistics to validate that. Faker lives on in the hearts of fans for what he has achieved over the years. Only the awards need him to prove their credibility and attract attention.”
Indeed, for a player like Faker, all statistics or metrics hold little significance. No one can measure Faker’s impact on T1, on League of Legends, and on the Esports scene. But one thing is certain: the day Faker retires, not only T1 or LCK will be in jeopardy, but the entire world of League of Legends and Esports may also face difficulties in the absence of their G.O.A.T.