In the current League of Legends scene, Faker is undoubtedly the only name that embodies all the elements: fame, wealth, credibility, titles, and skill… Especially with a simple lifestyle and a no-drama attitude, Faker is perhaps one of the few players who has earned the respect of the entire global League of Legends community, including fans from rival LPL regions and his own career opponents.
However, when fans inquired about the information disclosed by T1 CEO Joe Marsh, that Faker had received a $20 million offer (around over 458 billion VND) from the LPL, Doinb expressed his surprise. He stated openly: “I know Faker is one of the most decorated players in the world, especially with 3 World Championship titles. But no team would pay that salary for him; that figure is impossible. It’s not a lack of respect. The LPL has a salary cap. And with that amount, you could buy an entire team.”
Additionally, the mid-laner of LNG Esports also revealed the reasons why young players want to join T1. Besides the training environment… Faker himself is also a key factor. Doinb stated: “The best team for young players is definitely T1, and Faker is one of the reasons. Young players want to learn skills from Faker. As for me, I would also want to play alongside Faker at any cost. I want to join T1 to learn mid-lane skills from him. Many young players who have left T1 have joined other teams, and they all showcase great skills.”
As Doinb mentioned, just considering the LCK, there was a time when it was noted that all other LCK teams except T1 had members who had either come from T1’s training academy or played alongside Faker on the main team. Not just in LCK, but even in LPL and other current tournaments, there are names that have emerged from T1 and shined, such as Scout, Gori (LPL), Berserker (LCS)… And one common point is that, despite being in different environments, these names have all proven their worth. For instance, Scout is the reigning World Champion from 2021, and Berserker is a key player for Cloud9 in the LCS Spring 2022.
It can be said that Faker has significantly helped T1 in attracting young talents with potential to join the team. And these young players could very well be the future of T1, similar to names like Oner, Zeus, Gumayusi, and Keria, who are currently making their mark.