The Unkillable Demon King: A Profile of Faker

Playstyle: Renowned for his deep champion pool, high mechanical skill, map awareness, and ability to absorb pressure (playing “weak side”) while shot-calling for his team.

2. Early Life & Beginning

• Origins: Born in the Gangseo District of Seoul, South Korea, Faker was raised by his father and grandparents. He was described as an introverted child who loved puzzles and video games.

• Gaming Roots: Before League of Legends, he played Warcraft III custom maps (specifically Chaos), which helped him develop his MOBA fundamentals. He discovered League of Legends in 2011.

• Entry to Esports: Originally playing under the handle “GoJeonPa,” he quickly reached rank #1 on the Korean competitive ladder. His dominance in solo queue caught the eye of SK Telecom T1. In 2013, he dropped out of Mapo High School to join SKT T1 #2, making his professional debut in April 2013 against CJ Blaze, where he famously solo-killed the veteran mid-laner Ambition.

3. Professional Career

Faker is a “One-Club Man,” a rarity in esports, having stayed with the same organization for his entire professional career spanning over a decade.

• Teams:

  • SK Telecom T1 K / SK Telecom T1 (2013 – 2019)

  • T1 (2019 – Present) Note: The org rebranded from SKT T1 to T1.

• Career Milestones:

  • The Rookie Royal Road (2013): Won the World Championship in his very first year as a pro.

  • The Dynasty (2015-2017): Led SKT to back-to-back World titles and multiple MSI wins, establishing the most dominant dynasty in LoL history.

  • The Renaissance (2023-2025): After a period of rebuilding, Faker led a roster of young prodigies (Zeus, Oner, Gumayusi, Keria) to three consecutive World Championship victories (2023, 2024, and 2025), cementing an untouchable legacy.

4. Achievements & Records

Faker holds nearly every major record in League of Legends history.

Major Championships:

• World Championships (6x): 2013, 2015, 2016, 2023, 2024, 2025.

  • Note: As of early 2026, he is a 6-time champion.

• Mid-Season Invitational (MSI) (2x): 2016, 2017.

• LCK (Korea) Titles: 10+ Championships (Record Holder).

• Asian Games: Gold Medal (2022 Hangzhou), Silver Medal (2018 Jakarta).

Individual Awards:

• Worlds MVP: 2016, 2024.

• Hall of Legends: First-ever inductee into the LoL Esports Hall of Fame (2024).

• Esports Awards: Multiple “PC Player of the Year” awards; named “Esports PC Player of the Decade.”

Historic Moments:

• The Ryu Outplay (2013): A Zed vs. Zed solo kill that is widely considered the most iconic play in esports history.

• The Galio Semifinals (2017): Dragged his team to the finals almost single-handedly playing Galio across five games against RNG.

• The Shurima Shuffle (2023): His game-winning engage on Azir against JDG in the Worlds semifinals arguably saved the tournament for T1.

5. As of Jan 2026

• Current Team: Captain and Mid Laner for T1.

• Contract: Part-owner of T1; signed a multi-year extension ensuring he remains the face of the organization.

• Recent Performance: Coming off a historic “Three-Peat” (winning Worlds 2023, 2024, and 2025), Faker is currently competing in the LCK Cup 2026.

• Form: Despite being the oldest active player in the major leagues (approaching 30), he remains a top-tier mid laner, praised not just for mechanics but for his unmatched leadership and clutch factor in high-stakes games.

6. Social Media 

Unlike many streamers, Faker is known for being relatively private, though he broadcasts his gameplay on official platforms.

• Instagram: @faker (Millions of followers; posts lifestyle and team photos)

• YouTube: T1 Faker (Highlights and stream VODs)

• Twitch/Streaming: Faker (Streams solo queue gameplay exclusively on T1’s partner platforms, typically AfreecaTV or Twitch depending on current contracts).

• Twitter/X: Does not maintain a highly active personal Twitter; T1 official accounts usually manage his updates.

7. Why He is Famous

• Why He is Famous: Faker is to League of Legends what Michael Jordan is to basketball or Lionel Messi is to football. He was the first global superstar of esports, credited with popularizing competitive gaming in Korea and worldwide.

• Playing Style: Initially known as an aggressive assassin player (LeBlanc, Zed), he evolved into a selfless, utility-focused leader (Galio, Azir, Orianna) who sacrifices his own resources to help his team win.

• Legacy:

  • Loyalty: Turning down blank-check offers from China and North America to stay in Korea with T1.

  • Longevity: Maintaining a world-class level for over 13 years in a game where the average pro career is less than 3 years.

  • Professionalism: Known for his humble demeanor, reading books between matches, and never having a major scandal in his career.