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Faker
South KoreaSouth KoreaDebut and first titles (2013)
Lee Sang-hyeok was recruited from Solo queue by SK Telecom in 2013, and the organization built a roster around him for SK Telecom T1 2, later renamed SK Telecom T1 K.[1] He debuted in the OGN Champions Spring 2013 season and won both the domestic title and the 2013 World Championship in his rookie year, defeating Royal Club 3–0 in the final.[2]
Continued titles and part ownership (2015–2022)
SK Telecom T1 won back to back World Championships in 2015 and 2016, with Faker winning the 2016 Worlds Finals MVP award as well as two Mid-Season Invitational titles that year and in 2017.[3] The organization rebranded to T1 in 2019.[4]
In the beginning of 2020, Faker signed a three-year extension and became a part-owner of T1 Eesports, a deal the organization said would keep him with the team in a leadership capacity beyond his playing career.[5] He represented South Korea at the 2018 Asian Games, winning silver.[6] His contract expired after Worlds 2021, and he re-signed with T1 that November.[7] T1 reached the Worlds 2022 final but lost 2–3 to DRX, and Faker signed a further three-year extension with the team that November.[8]
Three consecutive World Championships (2023–2025)
He missed part of the 2023 LCK Summer Split with a wrist injury, and T1 qualified for Worlds 2023 as Korea's second seed.[9] T1 went on to defeat Weibo Gaming 3–0 in the final, winning the team's fourth World Championship and Faker's first since 2016.[10] That September, he captained South Korea to a gold medal at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, a result that also granted the roster exemption from mandatory military service.[11]
T1 won the 2024 World Championship, defeating Bilibili Gaming, with Faker named Finals MVP for the second time in his career.[12] The team also won the League of Legends event at the Esports World Cup in Riyadh that July, defeating Top Esports 3–1 in the final, with Faker named tournament MVP.[13] He became the first inductee into Riot Games' LoL Esports Hall of Legends in mid-2024.[14]
In 2025 T1 was not in their best shape top laner Zeus departed the roster in the off-season.[15] The team defeated KT Rolster 3–2 in the final on 9 November 2025 in Chengdu, winning its sixth World Championship overall and becoming the first team to win three consecutive titles.[16] Oner, Faker, Gumayusi and Keria became the first four players to win Worlds three times in a row together.[17]
Current contract (2026–present)
Faker signed a contract extension with T1 in August 2025 running through 2029.[18]
References
- ↑ "Faker (gamer)". Wikipedia.
- ↑ "Faker: the Korean legend of Esports". Expat Guide Korea.
- ↑ "Faker (gamer)". Wikipedia.
- ↑ [https://Lol.fandom.com/wiki/T1 "T1"]. LoL Esports Wiki.
- ↑ "Faker's groundbreaking new contract -- from T1 superstar to part-owner". ESPN.
- ↑ "Faker (gamer)". Wikipedia.
- ↑ "Faker re-signs to T1, "I'm back"". Upcomer.
- ↑ "Faker: The Complete Career, 14 Years On The Throne". RFT.
- ↑ "Faker: The Complete Career, 14 Years On The Throne". RFT.
- ↑ "T1 Wins Worlds 2023 On Home Soil, Faker Lifts His 4th Trophy". AFK Gaming.
- ↑ GosuGamers.net/lol/news/76352-faker-re-signs-with-t1-until-2029 "Faker re-signs with T1 until 2029". GosuGamers.
- ↑ "Faker re-signs with T1 until 2029". GosuGamers.
- ↑ "Faker: The Complete Career, 14 Years On The Throne". RFT.
- ↑ "Faker re-signs with T1 until 2029". GosuGamers.
- ↑ "Faker: The Complete Career, 14 Years On The Throne". RFT.
- ↑ "T1 Makes Esports History with Third Straight LoL Worlds Championship Win". Inven Global.
- ↑ "Faker: The Complete Career, 14 Years On The Throne". RFT.
- ↑ "Faker: The Complete Career, 14 Years On The Throne". RFT.
News
- 2026-08-18 News/The Esports Nations Cup Loses a Year Before It Ever Starts
- 2026-07-31 adidas Will Kit Every Nation at the Esports Nations Cup
- 2026-07-16 Faker Named Esports World Cup Ambassador Through 2028
- 2025-12-25 "Faker" Partners with McDonald’s
- 2025-08-26 Esports Awards of the Decade Winners Announced
- 2024-05-23 Faker Inducted into Hall of Legends
- 2024-05-22 SOOP Revealed
- 2024-03-20 FAKER Partners with Secretlab
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