MVP Faker: “I’m disappointed with the process, I’ll take care of the discomfort next year.”
T1 rose to the top of the world by defeating the Chinese team after a fierce battle that lasted for 4 hours in the world’s largest e-sports competition, ‘League of Legends (LoL) World Championship (Worlds)’. This is the second year in a row that he has reached the top of the world. At the center was Faker (Lee Sang-hyuk, 28).
T1 confirmed its victory by defeating China’s Bilibili Gaming (BLG) with a set score of 3 to 2 in the 2024 World Cup finals held at the O2 Arena in London, England on the 2nd (local time). T1’s captain Faker left a new record in e-sports history by winning his fifth championship. Since the first competition in 2011, this is the first time that a team has won Worlds twice with the same starting members.
T1 got off to a tough start, losing the first set. They succeeded in winning the second set, but were defeated by BLG’s quick attack in the third set. It was Faker who saved the team in a moment of crisis. Faker, who led the 4th and 5th sets to victory with a series of super plays, showed off his ace-like qualities and was selected as the MVP of the finals.
At a press conference held after the finals, he said, “I won, but the process was disappointing and I still feel uncomfortable,” and expressed his ambition, “My goal is to alleviate this next year.” Regarding the secret to maintaining his career as a player for 11 years, Faker added, “The biggest driving force is the fans.”
Faker, who debuted as a professional gamer in 2013, has an unprecedented career of winning the World World Cup, an international tournament, five times and the LCK, a domestic league, ten times. Fans even gave him the nickname ’Immortal Demon King’ as he always survives in games while showing high level of skill.
In the past, Faker received an offer from a Chinese professional gaming team worth an annual salary of 20 million dollars (about 24.5 billion won at the time). But I declined and stayed in T1. He revealed his reason for staying, saying, “My goal is to learn and grow rather than money or fame.” As Faker
According to the viewer statistics site ‘Esports Chart’, the finals of this tournament between T1 and BLG recorded the highest number of simultaneous viewers (PCU) of about 6.94 million. This is the highest number in Worlds history. The excitement at the finals was so great that 14,500 spectator seats were sold out early. The total prize money for this year’s competition is $2.225 million (about 3 billion won).
Reporter Jong-ho Han [email protected]
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Interview Between Time.news Editor and E-sports Expert on Faker’s Historic Win
Time.news Editor: Welcome, everyone! Today, we have a fascinating guest with us, an E-sports analyst and expert, to discuss the recent thrilling victory of T1 at the League of Legends World Championship. We saw Faker lead his team through quite a challenging series against Bilibili Gaming. Thank you for joining us!
E-sports Expert: Thank you for having me! It’s a pleasure to talk about such an exciting event in the world of e-sports.
Editor: Let’s dive in. T1 secured their second consecutive championship title, and Faker achieved his fifth championship win. What does this victory mean for his legacy in e-sports?
Expert: This victory is monumental for Faker, solidifying his status as one of the greatest players in e-sports history. Winning the World Championship five times is an unprecedented achievement, and what’s remarkable is that this is the first time any team has won Worlds twice with the same starting roster. It adds to his narrative as the ‘Immortal Demon King’—someone who consistently rises to the occasion, even in the face of adversity.
Editor: Indeed! Despite the triumph, Faker expressed disappointment about the process and mentioned feeling uncomfortable. What do you think is behind those feelings?
Expert: It’s interesting because it shows a deep level of professionalism and self-reflection. Even after winning, he’s analyzing the team’s performance critically. Perhaps the pressure of the championship, especially after losing the first match and facing setbacks, contributed to that discomfort. Faker has high standards for himself and his team, and he’s aware that the journey to victory is just as important as the win itself.
Editor: He certainly has a commendable mindset. During the press conference, he said his driving force is the fans. How significant is fan support in competitive gaming?
Expert: Fan engagement is crucial in e-sports. It not only boosts players’ morale but also keeps them motivated to improve and perform at their best. For Faker, having such a dedicated fanbase allows him to feel a sense of responsibility to deliver excellence. The emotional connection players have with their fans can often influence their performance, and this is especially true in high-stakes tournaments.
Editor: We also saw impressive viewer numbers for the finals, with approximately 6.94 million people tuning in—an all-time high for Worlds. What does this say about the current state of e-sports?
Expert: It indicates that e-sports are gaining mainstream traction and acceptance. As viewership increases, we can expect better investments in teams, better production quality for events, and a broader cultural impact. This kind of audience engagement rivals traditional sports and speaks volumes about the growing popularity of League of Legends and e-sports in general.
Editor: Faker declined a whopping $20 million annual offer from a Chinese team to stay with T1, stating his motivation is learning and growth over money and fame. What does this reveal about his character and the culture within T1?
Expert: It highlights Faker’s dedication to his craft and commitment to his team. Such a decision also reflects a culture within T1 that values loyalty, growth, and teamwork over immediate financial gain. This long-term perspective is crucial in a competitive environment where players often chase lucrative contracts, and it can lead to sustainable success for both the player and the organization.
Editor: It’s inspiring to see such dedication in the competitive scene. Looking ahead, what do you think Faker means when he comments on alleviating discomfort next year?
Expert: It suggests a desire for growth and improvement—not just for himself, but for T1 as a whole. He likely means that he wants to refine their strategies, enhance teamwork, and perhaps address any weaknesses they exhibited in the finals. This type of proactive mindset is what keeps teams like T1 at the top year after year.
Editor: Thank you for your insights! It’s always enlightening to unpack such a significant event in e-sports history. Any final thoughts on Faker and T1’s journey?
Expert: Just that the journey of a professional player is full of ups and downs, and Faker’s story is a testament to perseverance, passion, and the pursuit of excellence. Fans can look forward to seeing how he and T1 evolve in the upcoming season!
Editor: Absolutely! Thank you for joining us today, and thank you to our audience for tuning in. We’ll continue following the dynamic world of e-sports closely. Until next time!