The world of esports is abuzz as League of Legends celebrates its 15th anniversary, and its greatest-of-all-time (GOAT) player, Faker, is on the cusp of yet another title. This South Korean gaming legend, known as Faker or Lee Sang-hyeok, has been dominating the scene for so long that his sports comparisons have evolved. Some call him the Michael Jordan of competitive gaming, while others draw parallels to LeBron James. Faker's achievements have even been mentioned alongside icons like Lionel Messi, Tiger Woods, and Sidney Crosby.
At 29, Faker is poised to complete an unprecedented three-peat this Sunday in Chengdu, China. His team, T1, will face kt Rolster, a first-time finalist, in an all-Korean showdown for the 2025 League of Legends World Championship (LoL Worlds). The winning team will take home $5 million, plus a share of sales from exclusive in-game cosmetics, known as skins, designed in collaboration with the champions.
The Legacy of Faker: A 15-Year Journey
Faker's potential personal milestone coincides with a significant anniversary for the sport. This year marks the 15th LoL Worlds, and the celebration is only getting bigger each fall.
In anticipation of this year's showdown, The Athletic reached out to Faker and other esports pioneers to reflect on the best moments of their careers. Faker, with his unprecedented five Worlds titles (2013, 2015, 2016, 2023, and 2024), shared his thoughts on his favorite memories.
"I can't choose just one favorite memory," he said. "All the times at Worlds are memorable to me."
It's like asking a parent to pick a favorite child. Faker's dominance started at 17, and it continues as he approaches 30. His constant evolution keeps him ahead of each new wave of challenging prodigies.
"I think people assume Faker has always been the best, but he hasn't," said Emily Rand, a broadcast analyst at Worlds and a former esports journalist. "His ability to bounce back from low points and adapt his gameplay is truly impressive and inspiring."
Whether Faker hoists the newly designed trophy or not, he feels honored to be part of this journey. "It's great to see the league still thriving after 15 years. I'm grateful for the opportunity to be one of the teams at Worlds this year."
For Marc Merrill, co-founder of Riot Games, Faker's induction into the LoL Hall of Legends in 2024 was a no-brainer. "Faker is in a league of his own. He's humble, likable, and a good teammate. Will there ever be another like him? He's one of a kind."
Other Legends of the Realm
The second inductee into the LoL Hall of Legends was Jian "Uzi" Zi-Hao, whose electrifying performances in the 2010s played a pivotal role in bringing esports to the forefront in China. Despite never winning a Worlds title, Uzi's name struck fear into the hearts of LoL players and retired as a national hero.
"The year I first made it to the finals stands out," Uzi said. "Even though we didn't win, I remember the atmosphere, the cheers, and the feeling of fighting alongside my teammates. That moment solidified my choice to keep going."
In North America, Doublelift, whose real name is Yiliang "Peter" Peng, made headlines with his own legend. He once declared, "Everyone else is trash." When asked about his favorite moment, Doublelift recalled a group stage triumph in 2019 with Team Liquid.
"We smoked DWG in a massive upset, and I ended the game in a cool way. I felt unstoppable and alive."
Unfortunately, Team Liquid's journey ended there, but Doublelift cherishes the experience.
From Basement to Bird's Nest
The first LoL Worlds in 2011 had 1 million viewers. Last year, Riot Games reported a peak of nearly 50 million viewers. It's an incredible journey from a broadcaster's "basement."
David "Phreak" Turley, an esports commentator, recalls the first Worlds at Dreamhack in Sweden. An eight-team showdown competed for a $100,000 prize. Phreak and his crew recorded their commentary from a conference room, and the amateur setup led to the joke about "Phreak's Basement."
The early part of that broadcast remains Phreak's favorite moment. As they discussed the stream count, the numbers grew from 8,000 to 20,000, and eventually, 1 million.
"I've loved esports since I was a teenager. It's amazing to see it take off."
On the other coast, Emily Rand, another shoutcaster, grew up in Boston, a sports-loving city. She remembers watching the Boston Red Sox, but League of Legends soon became more than a hobby. In 2012, she discovered the professional league and became a fan of kt Rolster, who will face Faker's T1 in the finals.
"They're a fun team to follow. They're good enough to get your hopes up, and then they smash them down."
Rand's journey in esports has been remarkable, from player to blogger to Esports Journalist of the Year in 2020, and now a broadcaster. She has witnessed the growth of Worlds, including the memorable opening ceremony in 2017, where Faker and other finalists were introduced with a virtual dragon flying around the stadium.
"It's one of the seminal moments in esports history," said John Needham, president of publishing and esports at Riot Games.
Looking back, Marc Merrill recalls the early days of Riot Games as just an idea with his co-founder, Brandon Beck. It's surreal to think of the journey they've been on.
"It'd be a fantasy, a dream, and so improbable. Brandon and I were just friends who loved games."
The Plot Thickens
For pure drama, the 2022 Worlds final between Deft and Faker takes the cake. Kim Hyuk-kyu, known as Deft, guided DRX to a thrilling victory over favored T1. It was an emotional competition, as Faker and Deft were once shy schoolmates in South Korea.
"It's my favorite competitive moment in League of Legends history," Needham said.
So, as we look forward to this year's Worlds, let's hope for another memorable anniversary celebration.
