The Untold Truth Of Faker

League of Legends has become one of the biggest, if not the biggest, esport in gaming history. The popular MOBA has stood the test of time — remaining towards the top portion of competitive gaming for years. League of Legends has produced some of the highest quality streamers on Twitch and has also created gaming legends of a whole different caliber. Legends are born on the Rift — legends like Lee "Faker" Sang-hyeok.

Advertisement

Faker, the mid laner for T1 (formerly known as SK Telecom T1), came onto the League of Legends scene early on. His game mechanics and champion expertise were unrivaled. He was not your ordinary professional player — he was extraordinary. He arrived on the LCK circuit and made his OGN Olympus Champions debut in spring 2013. Since joining T1, Faker has amassed four first place victories in the LCK, three World Championships, and two first-place finishes at the Mid-Season Invitational (MSI). The man is a magnet for victory, and has become something of a legend in the LoL community as a result.

The Unkillable Demon King

Faker has been referred to as the "Unkillable Demon King" by numerous fans and shout casters. His ability to stay alive in-game and manage fights from the outside is the reason for his success, to the point that you might wonder what Faker's management and skills are like outside of League of Legends.

Advertisement

South Korea has a Military Service Act in effect that requires mandatory military service by the citizens of the Republic of Korea. Military service may last anywhere between 18 to 21 months and conscription requires males over the age of 18 to enlist into active duty. Faker, age 24 at the time of this writing, has yet to serve his time in the military. So, there is a very high chance that the Unkillable Demon King may have to serve in the near future. 

According to Naver Sports (via Google Translate), there is currently a bill that has been proposed that may postpone military service for certain individuals. Specifically, individuals must have promoted and boosted national prestige. Faker, alongside k-pop sensation BTS, is currently being considered for this proposition. If the bill is passed and goes into effect, then Faker may postpone enlistment until the age of 30.

Advertisement

Faker to the West?

North American teams have been biting at the chance to get some highly valuable import players to the League of Legends Championship Series (LCS). Faker has been at the top of the list of many organizations for years. With a resume like his, it's not hard to see why. To many, Faker is the God amongst the gods.

Advertisement

In 2020, Faker was offered a 10 million dollar contract from a Chinese League of Legends Pro League (LPL) team. Faker reportedly turned down the offer because he felt as though he would let down his Korean fans. So, he re-signed with T1. But China wasn't the only country that tried to recruit him. On a Korean show, Faker revealed that a North American team had offered him a blank check — allowing Faker tp decide how much he was worth. He still rejected the offer.

Despite this, Faker could still make his way to North America. In the 2020 season, Faker was benched as T1 Clozer made his debut in the mid lane. There has been enough interest in Faker across multiple Western teams, and it's possible one could luck out the next time he becomes a free agent. North America has the money — just ask C9 PerkZ.

Advertisement

Recommended

Advertisement