On this momentous occasion, let’s take a look back at the most memorable moments in the career of this “old veteran” (Faker is currently one of the oldest players in the LCK):
Devastating the King of Mid Lane in His First Professional Season
Before joining SKT T1, Faker was already known as a once-in-a-millennium prodigy of Korean esports, consistently dominating the top rank of Challenger in Korea at just 17 years old.
However, no one could have predicted that in his very first professional season, during the matchup between SKT T1 #2 and CJ Blaze, the young talent named Faker would achieve what no one had thought possible: obliterating Ambition – the number one mid-laner in Korea at the time.
The moment Faker’s Nidalee took down Kha’zix – Ambition’s signature champion during a moment of overconfidence from the former Gen.G captain, as he upgraded his skill (rendering the champion immobile for a time), became a pivotal turning point in the careers of both players.
For Faker, it was the day the world witnessed the birth of a new god, while for Ambition, his mid-lane career began to decline from that moment, and the veteran star could only regain glory by transitioning to the jungle position.
First World Championship Title in 2013
Although they were the reigning OGN champions (the predecessor of the LCK), SKT T1 was not highly regarded at Worlds 2013. Instead, Koreans placed their full trust in Samsung Galaxy Ozone – a team filled with stars at their peak like Dandy, dade, Looper, and Mata.
But as everyone knows, Ozone was embarrassingly eliminated in the group stage, while the team of fresh faces from SKT became the driving force that led Koreans to their first-ever League of Legends world championship.
Faker himself was voted the tournament’s best player (at this time, Worlds did not have an individual MVP title). The performance of the 17-year-old star completely convinced even the most discerning audience.
Tears at Worlds 2017
Faker’s career has not always been smooth sailing; the 2017 Worlds final can be considered the most unforgettable moment of this player’s career. However, for League of Legends fans worldwide, the moment Faker collapsed and wept uncontrollably truly became an indelible mark.
For many gamers, SKT’s 0-3 loss to Samsung Galaxy in that final may simply seem like “you’ve won enough cups, it’s time to let others have a turn!”, but for Faker and the SKT players, glory was never something easily relinquished.
They went to China with the mindset of being the greatest team in history (and still are), as the reigning champions of the tournament, with the sole ultimate goal of defending their title. But in the end, the Unkillable Demon King also had to fall, and Faker – the star who had been a world champion three times before, ended his golden era in tears with a painful defeat.
Lifetime Commitment to T1, Becoming a Stakeholder in the Team
On February 18, the esports organization T1 officially announced that the captain of the T1 League of Legends team – Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok had signed a contract extension with the team. The new contract will last until 2024, just before the deadline when this player must fulfill mandatory military service in South Korea.
Unless Faker continues to play professionally after 2026, when he turns 30 (when his military service ends), if not, this contract also means that this player has committed to spending his entire career in the T1 jersey.
In addition, Faker has also officially become a stakeholder in T1, investing capital in this organization.
After nearly a decade, from a diligent schoolboy who was determined to drop out to pursue his passion for gaming, Faker has become a global icon in esports, a source of pride for the youth of South Korea and all of Asia. Seven years have passed like a dream; the once young prodigy has grown up, now the big brother of T1, continuing to pursue new glories in his career.
Bonus: