Faker

Who Is Faker?

Lee Sang-hyeok, known by his in-game ID Faker and nicknamed “The Unkillable Demon King,” was born on May 7, 1996, in the Gangseo District, Seoul, South Korea. He is a South Korean professional esports player and a professional League of Legends player who plays as a mid laner for the T1 League of Legends division.

His achievements include six World Championships (2013, 2015, 2016, 2023, 2024, 2025), two Mid-Season Invitationals (2016, 2017), one Esports World Cup (2024), and 10 LCK titles.

Furthermore, as of January 2026, Faker holds 20 trophies — the first League of Legends player ever to achieve this milestone.

Early Life: A Quiet Child With a Brilliant Mind

Born in Seoul, Raised by Family

Faker was born on May 7, 1996, in Seoul, the capital of South Korea. As a child, he was introverted yet remarkably curious.

Faker has one elder brother. Both of them were raised by his father and grandparents, as his mother was absent most of the time. While growing up, he and his brother were both avid gamers.

He displayed remarkable analytical abilities from a young age, often challenging himself with complex puzzles and self-directed learning of foreign languages.

From Fighting Games to League of Legends

His gaming journey began with fighting and strategy titles. However, it was the release of League of Legends that helped him truly discover his calling.

He did not just enjoy the game. He mastered it. Therefore, by his early teenage years, Faker had climbed to the very top of Korea’s solo queue ranked ladder — a feat that would eventually catch the eye of SK Telecom T1.

The Rise of a Legend: Professional Career

SKT T1 Debut (2013)

Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok was pulled out of solo queue by the SK Telecom organization so that a team could be formed around him in the mid lane. Ultimately, they settled on Impact, Bengi, Piglet, and PoohManDu to surround him. The team was unveiled in February of 2013, dubbed SK Telecom T1 2.

His debut match on April 6, 2013, showcased his exceptional talent with a memorable solo kill against the established player Ambition.

Faker’s dominating performances put him in the conversation for best mid laner in the world after just one tournament.

The 2013 World Championship: A Star Is Born

In his very first year as a professional player, Faker did the unthinkable. He led SKT T1 to the 2013 World Championship. He was just 17 years old.

One moment from this era defines the beginning of his legend. During the 2013 World Championship, Faker outplayed Ryu in a Zed mirror match, showcasing his mechanical skill and game sense. This play remains one of the most celebrated highlights in esports history.

Dominance: 2014–2017

Between 2014 and 2017, Faker dominated competitive League of Legends, accumulating five LCK titles and two additional World Championships.

At the Mid-Season Invitational (MSI), Faker won the championship twice — in 2016 and 2017.

Moreover, Faker has twice been named Worlds Finals MVP (2016, 2024), earned MSI 2016 MVP, and has repeatedly been recognized as one of the best players in the Korean LCK league.

The Difficult Years: 2017–2022

Great champions face adversity. Faker was no exception.

The 2021 season was less successful, as T1 failed to win any championships.

However, Faker never quit. He never transferred to another team. Instead, he stayed loyal to T1. Because of this, his eventual comeback would become one of the most powerful storylines in esports history.

In the 2022 season, Faker achieved a number of career milestones. During the Spring Split, he became the first player in the LCK to reach 2,500 kills and 700 games. T1 finished the 2022 Spring Split regular season with an unprecedented, undefeated 18-0 record.

The Fourth Title and the Comeback: Worlds 2023

T1 beat Weibo Gaming in 2023 to win their fourth World Championship.

Worlds 2023 set a new record for peak viewership in esports. The South Korean president celebrated the victory publicly, saying the win had “once again made South Korea renowned as the front-running country in esports.”

Faker had silenced every doubter. He had done the impossible. He had won four World Championships — a record no one had ever achieved.

The Fifth Title: Worlds 2024

T1’s dominance continued into 2024. In the 2024 League of Legends World Championship, T1 defeated BLG to win the championship, with Faker securing his fifth World Championship title.

Faker reached 100 wins in the World Championship on October 11, 2024, becoming the first player to achieve this milestone. He also reached 500 kills at Worlds on November 2, 2024, in Game 4 of the Final against BLG — again, the first player ever to do so.

The Historic Three-Peat: Worlds 2025

Then came the achievement that no one had ever dared imagine.

In November 2025, Faker and T1 made history by achieving what no other League of Legends team had ever accomplished — winning three consecutive World Championships.

The 2025 World Championship finals saw T1 face off against fellow Korean powerhouse KT Rolster in Chengdu, China. The series went the full distance, with T1 emerging victorious 3-2 in a thrilling five-game series. After taking the first game, T1 dropped the next two, putting them on the brink of elimination. However, demonstrating the resilience and clutch performance that has defined their dynasty, T1 rallied to win games four and five, securing their sixth World Championship trophy.

The Worlds 2025 victory was particularly remarkable. T1 entered the event as underdogs, beginning from the Play-In Stage. Despite the introduction of Fearless Draft, which restricts champion picks, Faker delivered an exceptional performance.

The three-peat (2023, 2024, 2025) represents an unprecedented level of sustained excellence in the esports world. The championship roster consisted of Faker, Oner (jungler), Gumayusi (ADC), Keria (support), and Doran (top laner).

Record-Breaking Milestones

Faker’s career is a collection of records that may never be broken. Here are the most historic ones:

• Six World Championship titles — the most of any player in history (2013, 2015, 2016, 2023, 2024, 2025).
• 20 trophies total as of January 2026 — the first LoL player ever to reach this milestone.
• First player to reach 1,000 LCK kills (2016).
• First player in the LCK to reach 2,000 kills (2020), 2,500 kills (2022), and 700 games.
• First to reach 3,000 LCK kills, 5,000 LCK assists, and 100 Worlds wins.
• First player in history to achieve 1,000 kills in international tournaments (July 2025).
• First to reach 200 international wins (MSI 2025).
• First to reach 1,000 games in LCK (April 2025).
• Tournament earnings of approximately $2,136,648 across 98 events — the highest-earning LoL player of all time.

Asian Games 2023: Gold Medal and Military Exemption

On September 29, 2023, Team Korea emerged victorious in the League of Legends competition at the 19th Asian Games, thereby securing the coveted gold medal. A significant win, it bestowed upon star player Faker and the rest of the team the rare privilege of exemption from compulsory military service.

Faker himself did not play in the gold medal match due to illness. Since he played in earlier games, however, he was granted the exemption from military service — which came just in the nick of time for the 27-year-old Lee.

“I was sad not to be playing in the gold medal match,” he told reporters. “However, from a team point of view, everyone did a good job, so I think winning the championship is the best, however it is done.”

The players were still required to undergo three weeks of basic training and fulfill 544 hours of community service. Nevertheless, Faker’s career was saved. He could keep playing for as long as he chose.

Hall of Legends: Esports Immortality

On May 22, 2024, Faker was announced as the inaugural inductee into the Hall of Legends by LoL Esports. He was officially inducted at The Shilla Seoul in South Korea on June 6, 2024.

“For more than 12 years, Faker has shown incredible dedication to the game and sport.”

This honor recognized something that every fan already knew. Faker is not simply the best player of his generation. He is the best player the game has ever seen — and perhaps ever will see.

T1 Co-Owner: Building Beyond the Game

Faker’s relationship with T1 goes far deeper than player and team.

Ahead of the 2020 season, SKT was rebranded as T1, and Faker became a co-owner of its parent organization T1 Entertainment & Sports.

As of 2020, he signed a contract to become part-owner of T1, receiving stock options amounting to a 6% stake in T1. With T1 currently valued at $220 million, this immediately added significant value to his personal net worth.

Additionally, in July 2025, Faker extended his contract with T1 until 2029. He reportedly turned down a blank-check offer from a North American franchise and a rumored $10 million salary from a Chinese team — choosing instead to stay with T1 and take an equity stake in the organization.

This loyalty is one of the defining traits of his legacy. Many champions win. Very few remain faithful to the same team across their entire career.

Beyond Esports: Television, Music, and Pop Culture

Run BTS! and Radio Star

In November 2020, Faker appeared with fellow T1 members on Run BTS!, the variety show hosted by BTS, across two episodes featuring games and collaborative challenges. The crossover drew significant attention from fans of both esports and K-pop, showcasing Faker’s playful side through interactions with the idol group.

In January 2020, Faker appeared on MBC’s Radio Star, where he addressed career pressures, his global fame, and decisions to decline substantial offers from overseas teams in favor of loyalty to T1.

Stray Kids “CEREMONY” Music Video Cameo (2025)

He made a surprise cameo in the music video for Stray Kids’ “CEREMONY,” released on August 22, 2025, as the closing track of their fourth full-length album KARMA.

This crossover between esports and K-pop introduced Faker to an entirely new global fanbase. It proved that his influence extends far beyond the gaming world.

Faker Tower: Real Estate Investment

Faker Tower is a 9-story commercial building in downtown Seoul that Faker purchased as a real estate investment. It generates rental income from commercial tenants.

This investment underscores that Faker is building a financial empire — not just a gaming one.

Personal Life: The Man Behind the Legend

Faker was born in Seoul’s Gangseo District and spent his formative years under the care of his father and grandmother.

He has one elder brother, who also grew up gaming alongside him.

Faker is known for being deeply private. He rarely discusses his personal life in public. He has hinted that he may not pursue professional gaming again if given another chance at life. However, he remains committed to competing at the highest level for now.

Faker enjoys reading and exploring intellectual topics. He once recommended a book titled Broad and Shallow Knowledge for Intellectual Communication.

Complete Honors and Awards

Year	Honor
2013	World Championship (Worlds)
2014	All-Star Invitational Champion; NLB Champion
2015	World Championship
2016	World Championship; MSI Champion; MSI MVP; Worlds Finals MVP; IEM Champion; Korea e-Sports Awards Best Player
2017	MSI Champion; The Game Awards Best eSports Player
2019	Korea e-Sports Hall of Fame induction; Rift Rivals Champion
2020	LCK Champion (Spring); 2,000 LCK kills (first player)
2022	LCK Champion (Spring); T1 18-0 undefeated record
2023	World Championship; Asian Games Gold Medal; Military Service Exemption; LCK Player of the Year; LCK Mid Laner of the Year; The Game Awards Best Esports Athlete
2024	World Championship; Hall of Legends Inductee (first ever); Worlds Finals MVP; Esports World Cup Champion & MVP; LCK Player of the Year; LCK Mid Laner of the Year; 100 Worlds wins (first player); 500 Worlds kills (first player)
2025	World Championship (Three-Peat); KeSPA Cup Champion; 1,000 international kills (first player); 200 international wins; 1,000 LCK games; Contract extended to 2029
2026	20 career trophies (first player in LoL history)