Faker Eyes Another Worlds Title as League of Legends Esports Reaches Milestone
Seoul, South Korea – As League of Legends esports celebrates its 15th anniversary, all eyes are on Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok, widely considered the greatest of all time, as he pursues another World Championship title. The 2024 Worlds competition, currently underway, marks a pivotal moment for the game and its star player, offering Faker a chance to further cement his legacy.
The enduring popularity of League of Legends has transformed competitive gaming, captivating a global audience and establishing a multi-billion dollar esports industry. Faker’s journey, from a shy schoolmate in South Korea to a global icon, embodies the game’s dramatic narratives and improbable success stories. His continued presence at the highest level, 15 years after the game’s competitive scene began to flourish, underscores the enduring appeal of both the game and its most celebrated player.
“It’s easily my favorite competitive moment in League of legends history,” said analyst Josh Needham, referencing the 2022 Worlds final featuring Faker and Kim “Deft” Hyuk-kyu. That match saw deft, guiding DRX, achieve a stunning victory over Faker’s heavily favored T1 at Chase Centre in San Francisco.
The rivalry between Faker and Deft added another layer of intrigue, stemming from their shared history as schoolmates in South Korea – where Faker was known as “Mapo High School’s Fiery Fist.” “They both had these really engaging paths in their League of legends career, and to tell those stories made it an emotional competition,” Needham explained. “The competition itself was amazing. I just remember at the end of that Worlds being fatigued with the emotion and the thrill of the competition.”
Looking back on his own career trajectory, T1’s Merrill reflected on the improbability of his current success. “It’s surreal to think of what would happen if ‘current me could travel back and meet college me to show a window to the future,'” he said.”It’d be like, ‘Don’t play with my emotions, Future me.’ There would be a negative reaction, for sure, becuase it’d be such a fantasy, such a leap, such a dream. So improbable. It doesn’t make any sense. Brandon and I were just two friends who loved games and didn’t even know what we wanted to do in life.”
As the current Worlds unfolds, the question remains: can Faker add another chapter to his legendary career and deliver a title worthy of the game’s 15-year milestone?
