For an ordinary person, 10 years is a long enough period for many changes to occur. In the professional Esports environment, especially in League of Legends (LoL), 10 years is even more significant. It’s rare for someone to maintain a peak career for such a long time, even for players with a very healthy and professional lifestyle. Thus, Faker’s case can be considered “one of a kind.”
Therefore, for many fans of T1 and Faker, 2023 should be a truly special year as it marks the exact 10th anniversary of Faker’s official appearance and his impact on the professional LoL scene. It is noteworthy that T1 was expected to hold special events to celebrate this important milestone for Faker. Faker’s influence has been evident all along, but especially during the 2023 season, particularly in Summer, the impact of the “Demon King” became even more pronounced. Everyone remembers how T1 struggled when Faker took a break due to injury.
Yet, nothing happened. According to a Q&A session with T1’s manager Becker, he stated: “We planned to shoot a 10-year anniversary film for Faker in Spring, and we sincerely apologize for breaking our promise. We intended to make the film, but then the team lost (in Spring), and then there was MSI… In the end, we couldn’t arrange a suitable schedule. It’s entirely our fault, and we honestly apologize for that.”
The excuses from T1’s leadership team have only fueled the frustration of the team’s and Faker’s fans. One outspoken opinion stated: “A player who dedicates his entire career to the team, just signed a 3-year contract. Yet the team can’t even make him a 10-year anniversary video. And only when fans lose patience do they start planning. Don’t you understand that a 10-year anniversary is not just about the player but the entire history of Esports? I truly feel angry when my favorite player is treated this way.”
Clearly, T1’s “forgetting” Faker’s anniversary is quite incomprehensible. The importance and influence of Faker are acknowledged even by T1’s opponents. Yet, just because the team suffered defeat and prepared for tournaments, not having a commemorative video for Faker is not a reasonable explanation. Moreover, planning communication strategies is usually unrelated to the players’ professional preparation, as they are different tasks handled by different teams.
The 10th anniversary of Faker is indeed a significant event for LoL in particular and Esports in general. Yet, right in his “home ground,” he seems to be “abandoned” by the very team he is dedicated to.