When it comes to Faker, he is no stranger in the world of League of Legends, and esports in general. Not only has he turned the LCK into one of the most exciting leagues in the world of League of Legends, but Faker has also contributed significantly both in terms of expertise and influence. From his debut until now, he has built an impressive and monumental career that may take a long time for anyone to approach. Moreover, Faker serves as an inspiration for many young players in League of Legends and esports worldwide. Each international tournament he participates in feels like a fan meeting, with attendees being well-known figures in the esports, sports, or entertainment industries in general.
Notably, Faker is the only League of Legends player who has never competed in the LPL but has a Weibo account with far more followers than many legends in the region, like Uzi or TheShy. Even young players in the LPL are inspired by Faker. Recently, a young star from the LPL admitted that his in-game nickname was meant to honor Faker. This is Sheer – the 18-year-old player from JD Gaming who alternates with veteran Flandre for the Top Lane position of the MSI 2023 champions.
Accordingly, Sheer’s in-game nickname may seem meaningless, but in reality, it is a word with significant meaning in the English dictionary. “Sheer” means “extreme, nothing surpasses it.” According to the young JDG player’s explanation, he chose this nickname because he is a “hardcore fan” of Faker. Thus, the meaning of Sheer’s nickname is “Faker is the pinnacle, no one can surpass him.”
Of course, Sheer is just one of many players inspired by Faker or a “hardcore fan” of him in the League of Legends world and esports in general. But this also highlights an important factor: young players preparing to become the future of professional League of Legends in a new era have taken Faker as a role model to become professional players and develop their careers.
The influence of Faker is beyond debate. And it is very likely that in the future, these players inspired by Faker will rise and inherit the great career that the Mid Laner of T1 has painstakingly built since his debut until now.