Although they have never played on the same team in the LCK, Ruler and Faker have had the opportunity to be teammates twice during two ASIAD tournaments (2018 and 2023). Both Faker and Ruler have faced each other many times, so one could say there is a lot of “fate” between them. Not to mention, the incredible plays from one have directly eliminated the other from Worlds, further deepening their unique relationship.
During the 2023 Worlds, beyond their semi-final clash, Ruler and Faker also had the chance to play table tennis together. Notably, Faker delivered some incredibly powerful serves, prompting audible gasps from Ruler and the surrounding audience. However, unlike his exceptional League of Legends skills, Faker wasn’t particularly great at table tennis, often missing the ball.
Reflecting on this memorable experience, Ruler shared: “I played table tennis with Sang-hyeok. Every time the ball came to him, he would swing with all his might and hit it really hard, every single time. His style of play was like, ‘I will absolutely annihilate the opponent on the other side of the table.'”
From Ruler’s account, it is clear that Faker is not just serious in League of Legends; he approaches any competitive sport with the same intensity. However, those who have followed Faker for many years know that his consistently professional attitude and relentless pursuit of titles and victories are what have allowed him to maintain his skills and his remarkable esports career.
The competitive spirit and desire to win can sometimes lead to negative impacts. But for Faker, it serves as motivation to become the “Immortal Demon King” of today, rewarded with the championship title at the 2023 Worlds that he recently won with T1.