The showdown between Korean League of Legends and Chinese League of Legends at ASIAD took place with great anticipation from the community LoL, especially among Asian fans. This was not only a semifinal match but also a game that could be seen as an early final. The team that wins this “great battle between China and Korea” will almost certainly secure the gold medal at this year’s ASIAD.
However, amidst Korea’s victory, one thing that left the audience disappointed was Faker’s continued absence. In total, Faker only played in the match against Kazakhstan before sitting on the bench for the two matches against Saudi Arabia and China. While everyone understands that Chovy clearly has more potential to face Knight, even the fans of T1 and Faker fans do not want the “Demon King” to only showcase his skills in a single game against a very weak opponent.
Recently, aside from the technical factors and internal matters of the Korean League of Legends team that the audience is unaware of, a non-technical factor has been discovered that contributed to Faker’s inability to play. Specifically, it was noted that Faker had been wearing a mask when appearing in public, at the stadium… and even during interviews. Faker himself has spoken out about this issue.
Specifically, Faker admitted that he had health issues but also mentioned that his condition had improved. He stated: “My condition is actually good. But because I have met a lot of people in the athlete village, I felt a bit uncomfortable since yesterday, so I am wearing a mask. But seeing them (teammates) win the match, I feel like I suddenly feel better.”
Faker’s sharing has left his fans feeling upset. Indeed, Faker has appeared in many check-in photos with fans, players, and media at ASIAD. Even at the same time when the Korean players were dining or competing, Faker was still signing autographs or taking photos with fans. A hardcore T1 fan stated: “We want them to confiscate all cameras, phones, pens, and papers so that Faker can eat and rest comfortably.”
However, according to some assessments, Faker may be fit enough to play in the final. With an opponent that isn’t too difficult (Taiwan or Vietnam), Faker’s appearance and securing a victory for Korean League of Legends at ASIAD would be even more meaningful.