Faker

Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok established his name in esports in 2013, debuting professionally in League of Legends with SK Telecom T1 (later T1). Also known by his summoner “Hide on bush,” he anchored the mid lane and built a sustained career on precise mechanics, map awareness, and high-pressure decision-making. His public identity has been tied to Riot’s official competitive ecosystem as well as activity on platforms like Instagram and YouTube, where highlights, interviews, and career moments were shared. Remaining with the same organization and impacting both regional and international events defined his early rise and later consolidation.

Global recognition was backed by World Championship titles in 2013, 2015, 2016, 2023, 2024 and 2025, alongside LCK crowns and MSI trophies (2016 and 2017). In 2024 he was honored as the very first inductee into League of Legends’ Hall of Legends, an institutional milestone underlining his competitive and cultural influence. That same year, T1 also lifted the Esports World Cup title, with individual accolades reinforcing his legacy. Over time, his name became tied to iconic finals and rosters that blended emerging talent with veteran leadership, sustaining performance across shifts in the game’s meta.

Notable relationships include Bae “Bengi” Seong-woong, a teammate in the 2013, 2015, and 2016 championship runs, and Kim “Deft” Hyuk-kyu, a direct rival in the 2022 Worlds final with DRX. In the recent era, his connection with Choi “Zeus” Woo-je, Moon “Oner” Hyeon-joon, Lee “Gumayusi” Min-hyeong, and Ryu “Keria” Min-seok was documented in the 2023 and 2024 world titles, as T1 closed decisive series with adaptive drafts and methodical execution. These historical and contemporary links help explain why his career is often used as a benchmark for teams, eras, and competitive excellence in League of Legends.

In 2025, Faker once again made League of Legends history by lifting the Summoner‘s Cup for the sixth time, leading T1 to an epic final against KT Rolster in Chengdu that ended 3-2 and secured the first-ever Worlds three-peat for a single team. Beyond individual plays, his presence felt like that of a veteran who had seen it all and still found a way to keep winning: he remained calm when the series got tough, made key decisions in team fights, and demonstrated that his impact extends far beyond the mid lane. This title not only extended his personal record but also solidified the idea that Faker is not only the best player in history but also the linchpin around which T1’s most dominant era in esports has been built.