Faker

Lee "Faker" Sang-hyeok is widely regarded as the greatest League of Legends player of all time. Born on May 7, 1996, in Seoul, South Korea, Faker has spent his entire professional career with T1 (formerly SK Telecom T1), debuting in 2013 at just 17 years old.

Faker's rise to prominence was meteoric. Discovered through Korean solo queue, he joined SKT T1 2 in early 2013 and immediately made an impact. His most famous early moment came during OGN Champions Korea 2013 Summer, where he executed a legendary play against KT Rolster Bullets' Ryu, reversing a gank to secure a solo kill. This play became one of the most iconic moments in League of Legends history.

Throughout his career, Faker has accumulated an unprecedented list of achievements. He holds the record for most World Championship titles with six (2013, 2015, 2016, 2023, 2024, 2025), and has won ten LCK championships. He's also a two-time Mid-Season Invitational champion (2016, 2017) and the only player to have won all four major international tournaments organized by Riot Games.

Known for his exceptional mechanical skill, deep champion pool, and game sense, Faker has popularized numerous champions in the mid lane. His mastery of champions like LeBlanc, Ryze, Zed, and Azir has become legendary. Even in 2024 at age 28, he continues to compete at the highest level, recently leading T1 to their third consecutive World Championship title.

Beyond his in-game achievements, Faker has become a cultural icon in esports. He's appeared in numerous commercials, talk shows, and even became a part-owner of T1 in 2020. His influence extends beyond League of Legends, helping to legitimize esports as a professional career path in South Korea and globally.

Faker's career longevity is remarkable in a scene where players typically peak in their early twenties. His dedication to improvement, leadership within T1, and ability to adapt to the ever-changing meta have kept him competitive for over a decade. As of 2025, he's the oldest player to ever win a World Championship and continues to break records, including becoming the first player to reach 1,000 LCK games played.